Thorverton Bridge 

Alfred Parsons created this evocative landscape, ‘Thorverton Bridge’, using oil on canvas. Oil paint allows for a remarkable range of effects, from thin, transparent washes to thick impasto. Here, Parsons has used it to capture the atmospheric qualities of the Devon countryside. The soft textures and muted colors create a sense of tranquility, reflecting the rural setting. The way the light interacts with the water and foliage demonstrates the materiality of oil paint, and its capacity for illusionism. But beyond the purely aesthetic qualities, we can also consider the social context of this work. Landscape painting was a popular genre in the 19th century, reflecting a growing appreciation for the natural world. It also suggests a certain leisure, an opportunity to contemplate the beauty of the countryside. Parsons himself was a keen gardener, and one of the first to bring ‘English style’ gardens to the United States, which also speaks to the wealth and privilege of the artist. By attending to these details, we can appreciate the wider historical and social context of works like ‘Thorverton Bridge’.