St Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields
William Logsdail
1888
Provenance: Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1888
Tate Britain, London, United Kingdom

Logsdail painted this picture from a vehicle stationed for weeks at the kerb-side in Trafalgar Square, his feet covered with straw to protect them from the cold.
It is the most famous of his series of London scenes.

This view highlights the plight of child street sellers, and would also have reminded contemporary audiences of the 'Bloody Sunday' riots which had taken place in Trafalgar Square a few months before.
During the demonstration thousands of people, demanding the right to free speech, were brutally attacked by armed police and troops.