The Subject

When this painting arrived at the Herbert Art Gallery in the 1960s it was identified only as a landscape of Warwickshire. The donor who gave it probably knew this much because she had been given the painting by the artist's daughter.

But just where does the view show? The buildings on the right are very delapidated, so probably were pulled down. And what was this building on the right? The nearest part looks like a cottage, but it is joined onto a roofed space completely open to the street.

Maybe the buildings on the left have survived? Thatched two-storied cottages with timber framing and brick infill. Typical for the Warwickshire area certainly, but if anyone does know where this shows we would love to know.

The Artist

John Anderson was born in Annan, Dumfrieshire. He went through the Art School system, receiving his final training at the Department of Science and Art, South Kensington, where he trained as an art master. He was appointed Head of the Art School when it opened in its new buildings in 1863. From then until 1906 he was Head Teacher there.

He was a good teacher, such is made clear by a piece on him by two of his former students:

"He led his students in the best way suited to their aims (rather than working them for results that would give him credit with the governors), giving them opportunities in his own studio, or in the fields, which the School of Art could not provide, all without fee or reward ... I well remember the days we spent with Mr. Anderson painting in the country, how he would sit for hours before a large canvas, working joyously, singing to himself. Now and again coming to look over one's shoulder, giving a few words of advice, or taking the palette and brushes to help one out of a little difficulty. The lunch under a tree, followed by a pipe and a chat about pictures, while the sun went over us and put the shadows on the other side ready for the afternoon subjects..."

His view of the Thames in the London Museum shows him to have been strongly influenced in his youth by the Pre-Raphaelites. His later paintings no longer show the luminous colour which made that group remarkable. This watercolour retains something of the melancholy of the Pre-Raphaelites, with figures sitting listlessly on the grass while only nature has energy and man-made things fall into decay.

Works by the artist

The Herbert holds three watercolours and six oil paintings by this artist. The other watercolours are ' Old Cottages, Meriden, 1883', and a river scene, probably also of Warwickshire. Three of his oils paintings are of Warwickshire. One shows the Avon just along from Bubbenhall Mill. The mill has gone now but the weir remains. Another is of a pond near Whittem's Farm, Coundon. The third is of a little wooden footbridge over Finham Brook near Coventry. The other three oils are seascapes.

This watercolour and other scenes by the artist were donated to the city in 1967 by Miss A.M. Mackenzie of Sussex. We know that previously it had been a rather more personal gift because it carries a hand-written ink inscription on the back, "Elsie with mother's love". Elsie was one of the artist's daughters. Elsie Anderson gave the painting to Miss Mackenzie in the 1930s.

The Herbert also holds fine watercolours by his son George Lilly Anderson.