View on The Shannon

Artist John Cranch (Kingsbridge, England, 1751 - 1821)

Date1792

Mediumoil on panel

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 32 cm, Width: 45.8 cm
Frame: Height: 49.7 cm, Width: 63.1 cm

AcquisitionBequeathed in 1976 by Mrs K E Littlejohn.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG000058

Keywords

About MeInfluenced by the Dutch and Flemish masters of the 17th century, John Cranch worked principally as a genre painter in the manner of David Wilkie. He was a friend of the young John Constable and in 1796 he made a list of books for Constable to read, warning him that Sir Joshua Reynold's 'Discourses', could bias the young artist against 'familiar nature'.

Cranch specialized in rural genre scenes of peasant life, often set in interiors - but in this delicately painted view of the Shannon he embraces landscape, with just two figures of gentrified huntsmen climbing the red brick wall in the foreground.

More About Me

Collections Wall

One of the huntsmen seems to have found it easier to climb the wall than the other! Is he flourishing his hat as a mark of celebration, or maybe as encouragement for his friend?