The Mill Pool, Wormingford

This key painting was a late acquisition by the Freers, most of their Nash purchases having taken place in the 1970s, direct from the artist. As such it was not included in Allen’s monograph on Nash, published in 1993, and if known earlier might have changed the accepted chronology of John Nash’s East Anglian pictures. He is usually thought to have discovered Wormingford as a place to paint (and later to live) in 1929, but this picture predates that by seven years. Did this painting mark the Nashes’ first visit there? Or was John alone, without Christine? (Their usual habit was to travel together to a painting site which Christine would first have reconnoitred, reporting back on its suitability as a subject. John trusted her implicitly in this.) The dating and titling must be presumed correct as they were endorsed by Nash himself when the picture was exhibited at his retrospective at the Royal Academy in 1967. This very fine made-for-exhibition painting has something of the quality of finish of an oil, while composed with the lightness of touch and mark of watercolour. An important early work of a pivotal location.

A.L.