Marcus Adams
With colder months still with us take inspiration from this painting of a winter sports destination. [Highlighted: Jan 2024]

by Marcus Adams (1875-1959)
Watercolour
Date: Unknown
RGA member 1930-1959
RGA Councillor 1934-1949
Reading Museum Accession Number
REDMG : 1960.87.1
Marcus Algernon Adams, the internationally famous children’s photographer, often known for his relaxed portraits of the Royal family, was a member of the Reading Guild of Artists from its foundation in 1930, exhibiting every year until his death in 1959. Born in Southampton the family moved to Reading where he studied art and then apprenticed at his father Walton Adams’ photography studio, Adams Studio at Blagrave Street.
As well as following a successful career as a photographer, like his son and fellow RGA member Gilbert Adams, Marcus was also an accomplished artist and designer in a wide range of media, often using pastel, but also watercolour and oil. His subject matter included scenes of his own home and garden as well as from his travels including Cornwall, Switzerland, Italy and North Africa. He served on the RGA Council 1934-1949 and his brother, Christopher, was also an RGA member who exhibited miniature portraits of which Reading Museum has two examples.
The subject of this watercolour Saas-Fee is the main village in the Saas Valley, Switzerland, and is known for all-year-round winter sports.
Although this painting was not exhibited with the RGA, an oil painting of the same area titled Up to Saas-Fee, Switzerland was exhibited by Marcus Adams at the Reading Guild of Artists 8th Annual Exhibition, Municipal Art Gallery Reading in 1937 and he also exhibited another called Saas-Fee, Switzerland in 1948.
For more information about Marcus, his father Walton, and his son Gilbert visit Reading Museum Online Collections.