Artwork
The Hensfi-eld
The Hensfi-eld is a print by the Romanticist artist Edward Price. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Hensfield is a nineteenth‑century print that originally appeared within a bound volume of brown leather.
About this work
Overview
The Hensfield is a nineteenth‑century print that originally appeared within a bound volume of brown leather. The book comprises twenty‑one individual prints accompanied by textual material, each rendered in a monochrome palette that emphasizes tonal variation across the landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a tranquil valley flanked by rugged, tree‑lined mountains. A body of water occupies the foreground, reflecting the soft, hazy sky above. The composition conveys a sense of calm and natural repose, inviting contemplation of the scene’s quiet grandeur.
Technique & Style
Executed in a range of gray tones, the print employs fine line work and stippling to render texture on the rocky slopes and foliage. The gradations of shade create depth, while the delicate handling of atmospheric effects suggests an early Romantic sensibility toward landscape.
History & Provenance
The print formed part of the Hon. Christopher Lennox‑Boyd’s collection, which gathered British mezzotints, picture frames, ephemera, and watercolours. Lennox‑Boyd, also known for expanding the Oxford firm Sanders of Oxford into a prominent print and map dealer, sold the assemblage to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2015.
Context
Printed works of this period often served both decorative and educational purposes, circulating within bound volumes that combined visual and textual knowledge. The Hensfield reflects the broader nineteenth‑century interest in documenting and idealising natural scenery, a theme that resonated with contemporary Romantic artistic currents.
Artist & collection
