The Old Infirmary, Manchester

Agnew, Thomas and Sons Ltd, Messrs

Summary

To the right of the image looms a dark, imposing building, with a domed clocktower and neo-classical porticoes on each visible facade. This is the Manchester Royal Infirmary building at Piccadilly, shortly before its demolition in 1909-10. A dark cloud lours over the rear of the infirmary. In front of it run the tram lines, the overhead cables for which criss-cross the sky, held up by poles with elegantly curving arms. A row of horse-drawn cabs wait directly before the columns of the front entrance. Commercial buildings can be seen at the far side of Piccadilly, and in the foreground are passers by, a flower-seller, and men pushing a hand cart with luggage. The artist has included a small vignette of George and the Dragon at the bottom left corner, below the image.