Artwork
Crossing the Sands
Crossing the Sands is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist John Macpherson. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Crossing the Sands is a watercolour executed around 1874 by the British artist John Macpherson. The work is part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It portrays a tranquil coastal setting where figures on horseback move along the shoreline under a muted sky.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows several riders in dark clothing guiding brown and white horses along the beach, suggesting a leisurely or possibly utilitarian crossing. A sizeable vessel is anchored near the left margin, while additional figures are dispersed on the sand, hinting at a communal activity tied to the sea.
Technique & Style
Macpherson employs a restrained palette of browns, greys and blues, allowing the watercolour medium to convey atmospheric depth. Loose, expressive brushwork imparts a sense of motion, while subtle contrasts of light and shadow model forms and suggest distance across the tide‑worn landscape.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑1870s, the painting entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s decorative arts collection.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Macpherson painted quiet, detailed watercolours in the later 19th century. His brush traced gentle scenes such as Landscape with horsemen and sheep on a road and Crossing the Sands, both showing everyday roads and…
