View in north Wales 1820

John Glover made this painting of north Wales in the first half of the 19th century, during a time when British artists were busy trying to define what their national landscape looked like. This image creates meaning through visual codes that were popular at the time. The picturesque style of the artwork suggests a harmonious relationship between nature and agriculture. It references historical associations related to the British gentry's estates, which were supported by rural labor. Notice also the soft, hazy light; this effect romanticizes the scene, encouraging a positive view of rural life. However, we can also look more critically at this piece. As an art historian, I might ask, what is missing here? Where are the people who worked the land? Such a painting can teach us a lot about the social values that shaped British art institutions at that time.