A River Scene with Cottage

  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Government Art Collection
    A lake within a mountainous landscape reflects the silvery moonlight. One window of a cottage by the lake is filled with the orange glow of fire light. By the edge of the water a man watches as another fishes. In the foreground a dingy of moored by the water’s edge. The location of this work has not been identified and it may not be based on an actual site.

  • About the artist
    Sebastian William Thomas Pether, landscape painter, was born in London, the eldest son of Abraham Pether, also a landscape painter. He was a pupil of his father and followed him in painting mostly moonlit landscapes. From a young age Sebastian had a large family and struggled to make a sufficient income. He sold many of his works for modest sums to dealers, for the purpose of copying. He did, however, exhibit works at the Royal Academy in 1812, 1814, 1817 and 1826. However, in 1842 the Academy rejected all three of his submissions. Pether died of tuberculosis in Battersea at the age of about 54. A subscription was raised to help support his family. Landscape painter Henry Pether (1828-1865) is thought to be his son.
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    Materials & Techniques
    canvas, oil
  • Details
    Title
    A River Scene with Cottage
    Date
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 35.80 cm, width: 45.80 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Puttick & Simpson, November 1949
    Inscription
    Mgm Bl: "Sp"
    GAC number
    1006