English Country Road

While visiting the English coast and countryside, William Trost Richards became captivated by the sea and land. Having remarked on a trip to the Isle of Wight, the location depicted here, the artist wrote, "The coast here is not much; but the country otherwise is the perfection of pastoral scenery. I will probably give a good deal of time to trees and country lanes." The studies he painted focused upon the quiet rural charm of massive trees, shady winding lanes, and rustic fences. The careful detail of this work, the rural subject and particularly the picturesque note, unusual for Richards, of the little girl all suggest the inspiration of Myles Birket Foster. Foster's work was much admired in America and Richards had counted him among one of "the great men" of the English watercolor school.

We are grateful to Linda S. Ferber, Ph.D., Vice President & Senior Art Historian, New York Historical Society, for helping to prepare the catalogue entry for this work.