1811
oil
canvas
From the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum
High Tor, Matlock is a 1811 oil by John Crome, held at Fitzwilliam Museum.
This painting shows a landscape with a river in the foreground and a rocky cliff in the background. The river flows from the bottom left corner to the center of the painting, where it disappears behind some trees. The cliff rises up on the right side of the painting, with trees and bushes growing on its slope. In the distance, there are more hills and trees, with a few clouds in the sky. The painting is done in muted colors, with shades of green, brown, and gray dominating the palette. The overall effect is one of serenity and calmness, with the gentle flow of the river and the peacefulness of the landscape creating a sense of tranquility. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume, adds to the overall mood of the painting.
John Crome, once known as Old Crome to distinguish him from his artist son John Berney Crome, was an English landscape painter of the Romantic era, one of the principal artists and founding members of the Norwich School of painters.
See the richer artist page
