The life and paintings of Vicat Cole, RA. . ics complained of the frequent presence of the latterbirds in his pictures ; but, as he himself would ask,when are they ever absent from the upper reaches ofthe river in summer? Only once does he introduce aswan, and once a duck, each where its presence ischaracteristic of the place—the swan at Wargrave,the duck at Sonning. Barges, both those in use on the lower and upperThames, are often prominent in his pictures. They werespecial favourites with him, and for many good reasons. THE THAMES. !) What picturesque forms the sea-going barges present!How t
The life and paintings of Vicat Cole, RA. . ics complained of the frequent presence of the latterbirds in his pictures ; but, as he himself would ask,when are they ever absent from the upper reaches ofthe river in summer? Only once does he introduce aswan, and once a duck, each where its presence ischaracteristic of the place—the swan at Wargrave,the duck at Sonning. Barges, both those in use on the lower and upperThames, are often prominent in his pictures. They werespecial favourites with him, and for many good reasons. THE THAMES. !) What picturesque forms the sea-going barges present!How telling the lines of their half-furled lateen-like sails !What variety of tones are ottered by the rich colour ofthe sails and the piled-up cargo of hay or straw inlight and shadow! How suggestive they are of move-ment, of phases of human life, of human interests ! Thecanal barge, again, in the solitary reaches of the river,is often the only sign of life, as it glides by silently,towed by its horse, on which a man or boy sits side- i51928. THE WATER-LILT. ways. The peaceful movement is in perfect harmony withthe river gliding at its own sweet will/ and brings nointerruption to the artists contemplative mood. Bargeand figures associate themselves with, and become partof, the dreamy scene, and he paints them with evidentc 10 VI CAT COLES LIFE AND WORKS. happiness. Once or twice, as in the pictures of Abingdonand Sonning, lie marks with special favour, and laysclaim, as it were, to the barge by putting his own name
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidlifepainting, bookyear1898
