This early 20th-century oil painting by British artist John Falconar Slater (1857-1937) depicts a blustery river landscape with a cottage and windmill. Slater was one of the foremost British impressionists of his generation.
Bushes cling to banks, whipped by a storm under the rhythm of ominous clouds. The biting chill of Autumn is palpable, painted rapidly amid windswept conditions,
Slater’s early days were spent employed as a bookkeeper for his father’s milling business before he headed for the lucrative diamond fields of South Africa. However, following a formidable storm, which destroyed much of his business, he returned to England to pursue a career as an artist. Inclement weather became a characteristic of his work, arguably what made it so intriguing and remarkable.
He soon began to exhibit at the leading venues including the Royal Academy in London - and his impressionist brushwork was immediately evident. His version of nature was not to be embellished but translated with a keen appreciation for the transient effects of light.
In turbulent views of Whitley Bay and Cullercoats, near where he lived, his skilful compositions capture the force of frothing waters as they batter the rugged coastline. While his drifting summertime views of ambling cattle are conspicuous for their serenity.
Dubbed the ‘Weatherproof Artist’, Slater developed a strong reputation, particularly in the North East of England. He also shared his experiences in local newspapers and publications. A biography was published by historian Marshall Hall and he’s represented in numerous public collections.
Signed/dated in the lower right and held within a later frame.
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Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 33” x 23” / 84cm x 59cm
Year of creation: c. 1911
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,200 for ‘Over Putney Heath’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, The London Sale, London, 2002 (lot 33).
Our reference: BRV1908
