This late 19th-century oil painting by British artist Robert William Arthur Rouse RBA (1867-1951) depicts a picturesque view on the River Stour in Kent. Rouse was a skilled landscape painter, illustrator and etcher.Captivated by the enchanting verdancy of the English home counties, Rouse was a man of nature. Going to it, working predominantly outdoors, and describing its ever-changing moods with a poetic spirit. He enjoyed the freedom of the open air - simply pitching an easel on a damp riverbank, studying the elements, and painting. An approach which may seem obvious today, but during the late 19th century it was deemed as ‘modern’.In 1880, an art critic described Rouse as a member of “our modern landscape school” who “aim at the portrayal of simple transcripts of nature, judiciously selected, painted chiefly on the spot, with little regard to traditional rules of composition and chiaroscuro.” It’s tricky to decipher whether this is a compliment or otherwise. Other artists on ...