R. Ball, Entering Chesterfield via Matlock Road, 1970

R. Ball signed and dated this view in 1970. We have not been able to trace the artist. The subject is the Matlock Road, the A632, where it comes into Chesterfield from Matlock and the Derbyshire hills.

The road bends past a dry-stone wall, its double white lines catching the light. Telegraph poles and their wires run up to a row of houses on the rise. On the right, trees lean over a grassy bank. Heavy grey cloud is breaking to blue.

Pen and black ink with watercolour and white bodycolour on paper. Signed and dated lower right ‘R. BALL - 1970’ and titled below on the mount ‘ENTERING CHESTERFIELD via MATLOCK ROAD.’ A 1979 dedication on the reverse. Glazed, with a cream mount, in a slim wooden frame with a silvered edge. A few small brown spots along the lower edge of the sheet.