Watercolour on paper

Donated by Miss Lines, 1969

Why we acquired this work

Alice Lines who donated this work was Coventry's local studies librarian until she retired in 1970 after 47 years' work. She gave this and another watercolour to Coventry a few months before her retirement.

She knew that the Herbert was forming the Warwickshire Watercolours collection and that this would show that Coventry artists could stand with the best British watercolourists.

The subject

In the fifth year of her reign Queen Elizabeth I bestowed Kenilworth Castle on her favourite, Dudley Earl of Leicester. He built a gateway with lodgings above and this suite of grand rooms, used by that Queen during her famous visit in 1575. The whole castle first fell into disrepair after it was taken over by the crown following a dispute concerning a will.

Though the latest part of the castle, Leicesters Buildings appears older because softer and inferior stone was used which has crumbled more quickly.

The artist

The artist was a prominent Coventrian, liberal reformer and mayor of Coventry 1867 to 1868.

He gave money towards St. Michael's Parish Schools, opened in 1853, and towards the rebuilding of the School of Art. He bequeathed £1,000 to the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, and financed the Gulson Library in 1873 and its extension in 1890.

Gulson completed his apprenticeship in his family banking firm in 1835 and at 21 became a partner. By 1837 he was involved in the silk weaving business, buying raw silk in London and selling it in Coventry. From 1872 he was involved with the Coventry Machinists Company, making bicycles.

He was athletic and fond of the open air and took long walks in Warwickshire. He drew and painted Baginton, Stoneleigh and Finham. He also painted in the Scottish Highlands and the Swiss Alps. He was a close observer of nature, whether of the weather, of the seasons, or of plants and animals. He published an illustrated study of local trees, 'Some Old Oaks of Warwickshire'.

Related works

The Herbert has a portrait of the artist, John Gulson painted in 1898. This is a large oil painting on canvas by Hugh Riviere which was donated by John Rotherham.