A River Scene with a Castle and Figures
about 1755
Four figures in the foreground relax before a peaceful vista of a river, and a dynamic backdrop of a castle on a high, craggy wooded cliff. Here Wilson used a composition similar to that found in many of his views, combining topographical detail, often studied in North Wales and Cheshire, with some artistic licence. This imaginative scene is framed on the left by graceful tree trunks, which punctuate the sky. The delicate light, conveyed through soft colouring, is reflected in the river and enhances the sense of space.
