Boys Bathing
Joshua Cristall (Cambourne 1767/68 - London 1847)
Category
Art / Drawings and watercolours
Date
1800 - 1899
Materials
Watercolour on paper
Measurements
460 x 640 mm (18 x 25 in)
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 607884
Summary
Watercolour on paper, Boys Bathing by Joshua Cristall (Cambourne 1768 – London 1847). Three full-length naked youths on a river bank on the left of the picture; the foreground figure is kneeling on his left knee, head bowed, turned to left, removing his white shirt which still hangs from his right arm, behind him with his back to the spectator is the second youth, his head turned to the left, removing his shirt from over his head, the third youth behind him is turned to the right, bent over, head down and arms together, about to dive into the river which flows on the right of the picture; a fourth youth, with his back to the spectator, is swimming in the river, his right arm extended on the water; woodland background, and bright blue sky. Wood in distance and bright blue sky. Companion to NT607882 and NT607883. Probably the painting exhibited at Society Painters in Water-Colours in 1806 with the title: Cheer’d by the milder beam, the sprightly youth speeds to the well-known pool” (from Thompson’s Summer). Glazed in ornate giltwood frame, carved leaf border.
Provenance
Bought by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill 8th Lord Berwick (1877-1947); bequeathed to the National Trust by Edith Teresa Hulton, Lady Berwick (1890-1972).
Credit line
Attingham Park, The Berwick Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: Wyatt and Son, Oxford (printsellers) (printed label) Verso: Label inscribed in black ink: Joshua Cristall No.3 Boys Bathing
Makers and roles
Joshua Cristall (Cambourne 1767/68 - London 1847), artist