Artwork
The Xanthus River
The Xanthus River is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Charles Joseph Frederick Ewart. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Xanthus River is a watercolour depicting a serene river scene with British sailors preparing to transport sculptures from the Xanthus site onto a boat, framed by two prominent trees and distant, mist-shrouded hills.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork captures a moment in the historical removal of artifacts from the Xanthus River site, highlighting the intersection of cultural extraction and natural tranquility.
Technique & Style
The artist employed watercolour to emphasize light and shadow, achieving a three-dimensional effect on the trees, while conveying the calmness of the river through subtle ripples.
History & Provenance
Acquired by the collection in May 1971 from Appleby for £20, the work is attributed to Vice Admiral Charles Joseph Frederick Ewart.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Joseph Frederick Ewart
Charles Joseph Frederick Ewart painted quiet watercolours of ancient ruins and landscapes.
The Hudson at Nyack
River scene with a temple or palace in the clouds
Landscape with Lake and Cliffs
Pool and woods at Wotton, near Dorking
Elms, Hudson
The Mayor's Walk on the Banks of the Ouse, Yorkshire
Pond Edge
Pennsylvania Landscape
Plumpton Rocks
River Stour, Suffolk
Willows
Kaisaniemenlahti, keskeneräinen teos