A country toll bar
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
About the artist
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
A country toll bar is a 1850 watercolor by Clennell, a British Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a small village scene with a dirt road and a wooden toll booth. Three men on horseback ride toward a woman standing near the booth, while another man walks ahead. The sky is bright with fluffy clouds, and the buildings look rustic, made of stone and wood. A dog sits off to the side, and a sign hangs near the booth, though the words are unclear. The brushstrokes are loose and quick, giving the scene a sketchy, unfinished feel. The colors are soft—muted greens, browns, and grays—with just a few brighter spots like the horses’ coats and the sky. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
A watercolour by Clennell from 1850 depicts a rural toll barrier where two horsemen hand over payment to the tollkeeper, whose small cottage is positioned to the right.
Read the full account in the museum source.
