This mid-19th-century oil painting by British artist John Frederick Tennant (1796-1872) depicts a young couple within a sun-drenched rural idyll.
On bended knee, a young fisherman attaches bait to a homespun rod. A girl looks on curiously while holding a wooden hoop. Two trees seem entwined on the edge of a river, one blushing candidly with an ethereal glow.
Amid the lazy shimmer of this picturesque environment, young love, with its captivating simplicity, manifests in tinted golden hues. The abundant joy in a basic task illuminated with the incandescence of Summer. True love blossoms on the dusty trails of Scarborough. It’s a budding romance - a personal Utopia.
Tennant’s heart sang under nature’s spell. Portraying this mistress in her most evocative moods. Where others sought to whisper, he clambered to the rooftops, only too eager to celebrate her allure. And here, via the medium of a simple flirtation, he’s contextualised a view with the brush of a poet.
Signed/dated lower left and held within a gilt frame.
Another of Tennant's works from 1841, also depicting Scarborough, is in The Royal Collection.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 38½” x 27½” / 98cm x 70cm
Year of creation: 1841
Condition: Artwork presents well. Fine craquelure but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £27,848
John Frederick Tennant trained under Scottish marine painter William Anderson. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Society of British Artists, British Institution and New Watercolour Society. His works are held in numerous public collections including the Royal Collection, the Government Art Collection and the museums/galleries of Manchester, Nottingham, Wolverhampton and Blackburn.
Learn more about John Frederick Tennant in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
