A Matinee Interval
Townsend was encouraged at an early age to study art and was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools in 1902. Among his tutors were John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) and Sir George Clausen (1852-1944). Much like his contemporary Fred Elwell (1870-1958) Townsend observed, but chose not to pursue, the vigorous avant-garde developing in Britain - although even his most traditional subject matter could not fail to be touched by the new approaches to light and colour. Following his return to Derby he became a successful portrait painter but unlike Elwell did not become a Royal Academician. The stiff formality of his portraiture is broken, however, in this warm, affectionate study of performers resting during the interval. 'Entertainment' was a popular theme for artists, and Townsend has imbued the scene with the mellow lighting of 17th century Dutch painting, which he studied during his visits to the Netherlands. During the 2nd World War Townsend's career took an unusual turn when he was commissioned to camouflage the Rolls Royce works at Derby, a major target for enemy bombs. He disguised the factory as an entire village when seen from the air, turning water towers into clock towers and roofs into bowling greens.
