A Stream Near Clovelly, North Devon 1850

John Middleton captured this watercolor titled, *A Stream Near Clovelly, North Devon*, during a time when landscape painting served as a tool for cultural expression. It reflected the romantic idealization of nature, while it also served as a commentary on Britain's evolving national identity. Middleton, positioned within the 19th-century art world, navigated the expectations of his time, yet his delicate treatment of the Devon landscape hints at a deeply personal connection to the natural world. The painting invites us to consider the complex relationship between nature and society. The image presents a seemingly untouched wilderness, yet it also prompts us to reflect on the ways in which landscapes are inevitably shaped by human perception and intervention. The stream, the bridge, the forest are all a reflection of an aesthetic and philosophical interest in the natural world, one that is both beautiful and deeply implicated in broader social and cultural contexts. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which we perceive and interact with the environments around us.