Barmouth Estuary, with Cader Idris in the distance

David Cox

1800

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century Landscape

About this work

This painting shows a quiet river scene with rolling hills in the distance. Two small boats float on calm water, each carrying a few people. On the shore, a man stands with a fishing rod while another sits nearby. A few cows graze near the water’s edge, and trees line the right side. The sky is soft with scattered clouds, and the light gives everything a warm glow. The artist used loose brushstrokes to capture the misty, dreamy feel of the landscape. Look up David Cox to see how he painted light and nature in his work.