Artwork
Tiberais [sic]
![Tiberais [sic], by Mary Parker, watercolor, 1825](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/mary-parker--tiberais-sic--e6f3a288c102ee52-w1024.webp)
Tiberais [sic] is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Mary Parker. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Mary Parker’s watercolor titled *Tiberias* presents a tranquil vista of water edged by a modest settlement, framed by distant hills. The composition balances a reflective surface—likely a lake or coastal inlet—with architectural elements that suggest a small town, all rendered in a muted palette that conveys calm and spaciousness.
Subject & Meaning
The scene alludes to the historic region of Palestine, specifically the area around the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. By depicting the locale’s natural and built environment, the work evokes the quiet daily life of a riverside community, inviting contemplation of place and history.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the piece employs delicate washes and soft brushwork to model light on water and atmospheric haze over the hills. The restrained color scheme and gentle transitions create depth without harsh contrast, reflecting a Romantic sensibility that values mood and the sublimity of landscape.
History & Provenance
The drawing may have been inspired by Parker’s own observations during a pre‑marital visit to the region, though documentation is limited. In November 1961, Alister Mathews of Bournemouth purchased the work for three pounds and five shillings, adding it to his private collection.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Parker painted quiet watercolours of biblical sites in the 1820s. Her sheets show Carmel’s cliffs, the road to Emmaus, Sinai’s slopes, the river Jordan, and Bethlehem’s rooftops—all done in soft washes of color.…
