Twickenham | 1915

Twickenham, 1915, by Alfred Fontville de Breanski

This early 20th-century travel poster showcases a picturesque riverside scene in Twickenham, a historic town on the River Thames in southwest London. The artwork captures the tranquillity of the water, with two swans gliding past gently rippling reflections of lush greenery. A weeping willow drapes over the water in the foreground, while boats and distant architecture, possibly a church or stately home, add depth to the composition. The poster’s soft colour palette, with shades of green, blue, and golden yellow, creates an inviting summer atmosphere..

Produced as part of a promotional campaign for tram travel, this poster was designed to entice Londoners to explore scenic destinations just outside the city. At the time, Twickenham was known not only for its riverside beauty but also for its connection to English aristocracy, historic houses like Marble Hill House, and the growing popularity of leisure boating. The tram network, which expanded significantly in the early 20th century, made day trips more accessible to the working and middle classes.

Alfred Fontville de Breanski (1877–1957) was a British artist best known for his landscape paintings, often depicting idyllic scenes of the English countryside and Scottish Highlands. The son of noted landscape painter Alfred de Breanski Sr., he developed a distinct style that blended Romanticism with early 20th-century commercial illustration.