Description

From the Brighton Aquatints suite. Hand coloured edition of 55.

Notes by the artist: The First Avenue Hotel, Hove.

The yellow brick end of Hove has many charms. Going west from the West Pier one passes buildings that gradually become later in date, and on reaching first Avenue one is in an atmosphere of the late Victorian. Balconies and other decorative features have more importance, more flourish; porches are richly wreathed in wrought iron, and white painted pinnacles stick up like pins in a well stocked pincushion. But the atmosphere is still gay. Victorian architects let themselves go in Brighton: the air and the clients were encouraging. Compared with the Regency calm, the static elegance of most of Brighton front, the buildings here are frantically busy , but they have none the less a vivid sense of seaside, and a magnificent swagger. Queen Victoria, imposing in dark bronze, looks out to sea from the pedestal.