Stourbridge. Watercolour and gouache over graphite on paper. 6 7/8 x 9 7/8 inches (17.4 x 25.1 cm). Collection of the National Gallery of Canada, accession no. 42399. Image courtesy of the author.
This watercolour was painted at Stourbridge in 1851, the same year Bowler moved there to become Headmaster of the Stourbridge School of Art. Stourbridge is historically part of Worcestershire and was famous in the nineteenth century for glass manufacturing. The Art School was established in 1848 as a School of Design associated with the Mechanics Institute. Many of the expert craftsmen involved in the local glass industry were trained there.
This work was executed early in Bowler's stay in Stourbridge, in a more rural part of the town. It predates his "Pre-Raphaelite period" and is more reflective of an earlier tradition of English watercolour painting. Its unusual composition, and the brilliant touch of red in the dress of the figure in the left mid-ground which brings the picture to life, highlight how good a painter he could be at times. It is a pity that his teaching and administrative duties left him so little time for his own art.
Created 24 July 2024