Hampton Court | 1921

Hampton Court, 1921, by Charles Paine

This striking poster features a stylised mandarin duck gliding on a dark blue pond in front of a geometric green and orange fountain, rendered in bold flat colours. The composition is framed by large, abstract water jets that fan upward like stylised foliage. Strong black outlines and simplified forms reflect an Art Deco sensibility, while the overall palette of forest green, navy, and orange lends the image visual clarity and vibrancy. The word HAMPTON COURT appears prominently at the base in pale green capital letters, accompanied by decorative wave motifs.

Commissioned by London Underground as part of Frank Pick’s ambitious campaign to popularise leisure travel by train, this 1921 poster promoted Hampton Court as a destination for day excursions. Located in southwest London, Hampton Court Palace had become accessible to a wider public in the early 20th century, known for its gardens, the Great Fountain, and baroque architecture. The mandarin duck—an exotic species introduced to Britain in the 18th century—was likely chosen to emphasise the ornamental character of the palace grounds.

Charles Paine (1895–1967) was a British artist and designer associated with the decorative arts revival of the interwar years. Trained at the Glasgow School of Art, he worked across media—designing stained glass, textiles, and posters—often integrating stylised natural forms and flat planes of colour. Paine created posters for London Transport, Empire Marketing Board, and commercial clients such as Mac Fisheries.