John Glover P.O.W.S (1767-1849) - English Capriccio Landscape with Castle ruin

This picturesque landscape composition by Glover was painted in the months before he emigrated to Australia in May 1830. Today the artist is mainly known for his views of Tasmania but his works whilst living in England deserve much attention. In fact, he was known as the 'English Claude' because of his romantic Italianate views of the British countryside. Glover was particularly accomplished in watercolour painting and regularly exhibited at the Old Watercolour Society (known now as the RWS) becoming its president in 1807.
 
This large work presumedly is an English landscape with a castle ruin to the left with a river flowing under a bridge next to it. The large tree adds a capriccio element to the composition and was a technique early British artists often employed (for example Richard Wilson or Paul Sandby) to frame their works adding an Italinate style. The location of this picture is likely to be somewhere in the Lake District, Scotland or Wales, as the mountain in the background hints to these parts of the British Isles. Glover was futhermore known to have painted these locations on various occasions.
 
Medium: watercolour and pencil on paper.
 
Signed and dated l.l. 'J Glover 1830', 26.7 x 36.3 cm, framed with inscription on mount.
 
Provenance: Knowle Gallery, Tunbridge Wells (note, the gallery label includes the wrong dates for Glover).