London in the 17th century

This stylised view of Lambeth Palace, as seen from the Thames, is made more intriguing by the three-dimensional triangle floating in the sky above it.

Strong geometric shapes reoccur throughout the painting and the triangle is mirrored in the buildings to the left of the composition. Although the meaning of the hovering triangle remains unclear, Humphrey Jennings was to later write about his passion for juxtaposing ordinary things with something mysterious.

The year that this picture was painted, the artist ( 1905-50) was a member of the Organising Committee of the International Surrealist Exhibition which was held in London. Although Jennings was extremely committed to the surrealist movement, his painting is unique in the body of surrealist painting because it retains a strong sense of place.

As well as being an artist, Jennings was also a film director and poet. He moved to London during the 1930s and founded, along with others, the Mass Observation Movement. His interest in documentation was sometimes perceived to be at odds with his passion for poetry and surrealism.