A River Scene with a Castle and Figures
About this artwork
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.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Richard Wilson (1713/4 - 1782) Welsh
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title:A River Scene with a Castle and Figures
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date created:About 1755
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:85.10 x 127.00 cm; Framed: 129.00 x 171.50 x 18.50 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Bequest of Mrs Mary Veitch to the RSA 1875; transferred and presented 1910
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accession number:NG 620
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gallery:
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subject:
Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson
Wilson was the first British artist to paint classical landscapes, inspired by the work of Claude Lorraine and Gaspard Dughet. He was born in Wales, but moved to London to train with Thomas Wright, an established portrait painter. Wilson's early paintings were portraits, but he turned to landscape...