Romantic Landscape
This painting has recently been cleaned of the dirt and dust which had built up over the years, discolouring the varnish. The deep green tones which pervaded the canvas, caused by this discoloration, have now been lifted to reveal both rich and delicate shades of blue and yellow. A great deal of the foreground detail, which had previously been obliterated, is also now clearly visible. Although the work was originally thought to be by Francis Danby, there has been some dispute as to this attribution. It is now generally accepted to be a close imitation of Danby's style, possibly by his close friend James Johnson (1803-1834). Danby was known for his romantic landscapes, inspired by the 17th century painter Claude Lorraine (1600-1682). Danby based his work on his imagination, yet combined these idyllic and sometimes fantastic visions with a careful observation of nature. In the 1820s he became particularly interested in the effects of rays from the sunset through trees, which evoked moods of calm contemplation.
