Upper Eskdale – Greeting Card

Description

“This wild region, one of the grandest and most solitary in the Lake district, is traversed by few, owing to the absence of roads” [Black’s Guides to the English Lakes, ed. Gordon-Home, p203]

The powerful twin combination of rushing water and rock were one of William’s favourite subjects to paint, and he frequently enjoyed the challenge of portraying all the complexity of water in simplified shapes, as it cascades its way down through the jutting rocks. Here in this animated painting he relates the top of the river Esk as it reaches the level ground of Great Moss, where Esk Buttress and Ill Crag can be seen across the Moss.