Edward Robert Smythe, Bowden Lock, Suffolk - Antique Oil Painting

19th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This mid-Victorian rural scene by Edward Robert Smythe (1810-1899) is blessed with the picturesque romance of imagined country life. Smythe was purposeful and his works in high demand - particularly by those housed within overcrowded cities and industrialised towns.

Here, we see Bowden Lock in Suffolk manned by a young lad while another leads a horse. The river approaches from the left, which is partially obscured by a gnarled tree, and the view is graduated towards a distant town.

The details are faithfully represented - note the dappled effect on the brickwork, an effective technique to express light.

Smythe painted this lock on multiple occasions with another selling at Christie’s in 2008.

Learn more about Edward Robert Smythe in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 41” x 32” / 104cm x 82cm

Year of creation: c. 1870

Condition: Minor craquelure. Canvas relined. Overall very presentable.

Artist’s Auction Highlight: £60,752 achieved for ‘Favourite Hounds’ at Bonhams in 2013.

Physical Dimensions

Height

82cm (32.28")

Width

104cm (40.94")

Depth

4cm (1.57")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA876708

Description

This mid-Victorian rural scene by Edward Robert Smythe (1810-1899) is blessed with the picturesque romance of imagined country life.

“

Smythe was purposeful and his works in high demand - particularly by those housed within overcrowded cities and industrialised towns.

Brave Fine Art

fig 1. Edward Robert Smythe, Bowden Lock, Suffolk - Antique Oil Painting

Here, we see Bowden Lock in Suffolk manned by a young lad while another leads a horse. The river approaches from the left, which is partially obscured by a gnarled tree, and the view is graduated towards a distant town.