Artwork

Ten small landscape drawings

Ten small landscape drawings, by John Glover, 1767
Ten small landscape drawings, by John Glover, 1767

Ten small landscape drawings is a drawing by the Romanticist artist John Glover. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Ten small landscape drawings, executed in 1767 by the English artist John Glover, comprise a series of modestly sized works on paper. The collection is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings. Each sheet presents a brief, observational view of a rural scene, rendered in a direct, sketch‑like manner that emphasizes immediacy over finish.

Subject & Meaning

The central image features a solitary, contorted tree with a gnarled trunk and thick, uneven bark. Behind the tree, a scattering of smaller trees recedes toward a flat field that opens onto a distant row of low buildings. The composition suggests a quiet, pastoral landscape, inviting contemplation of the relationship between solitary natural forms and the broader countryside.

Technique & Style

Glover employs rapid, sketchy strokes to convey the texture of bark and the play of light across the tree’s surface. Cross‑hatching builds subtle shadows, while the paper’s worn appearance indicates frequent handling. The overall approach is economical, favoring gestural line work that captures the essence of the scene rather than detailed rendering.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth century, the drawings entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection at an unspecified date, where they remain accessible for study. Their survival in a relatively intact state provides insight into Glover’s early practice and the drawing conventions of the period.

Artist & collection

Portrait of John Glover

Artist

John Glover

John Glover (1825–1825) was an artist.