William Henry Hunt O.W.S. (1790-1864) - Pastoral Landscape

William Henry Hunt was one of the leading British watercolourists of the 19th century and is renowned for his still life picutres and pastoral landscapes. His early tutor was John Varley whose influence is obvious in Hunt's works. The physician Dr Thomas Monro was a keen supporter of the arts and watercolourists in particular. He was an important patron of Hunt and opened up many avenues for his career.
 
This particular watercolour appears to have been taken from one of Hunt's sketchbooks and displays an idylic English pastoral landscape. In the foreground there are cattle grazing close to a river with a small town obvious on the other side which includes a parish church and a windmill. This work is similar to other small drawings by Hunt that are in various national collections including at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Tate.
 
Hunt's early work shows the influence of his teacher, John Varley, as well as his patron, Dr. Thomas Munro and Henry Edridge, a close associate of Munro
 
Medium: watercolour grey washes, pencil and white bodycolour on paper.
 
5.6 x 8.4 cm, framed.
 
Provenance: Collection of Dr Edward Brett.
 
Condition report: good overall, small pin head foxing marks near to the church shown in photographs. Also possible small tear in the lower right hand corner that is not obvious unless looked at closely.