This exquisite antique oil painting by Frank Brooks (1854-1937) captures the timeless beauty and tranquility of the River Wylye, one of the famed chalk streams of the Salisbury Plain. The meandering river flows gently through a bucolic countryside, dotted with picturesque trees and rolling hills in the distance. Brooks' masterful use of color and light evokes a sense of peace and serenity, as if the viewer is transported to a simpler, more peaceful time. The painting features a charming little bridge spanning the river, which adds a sense of structure and order to the natural landscape. This piece is a true masterpiece of impressionism and a must-have for any art collector or lover of nature.

The work is signed and dated, lower left: “Frank Brooks 1904”. Pencil notations on the back of the frame, By the Wily, Salisbury, Wilts (Wiltshire)

Dimensions:

• Overall = 9 ½” by 10 ¾”
• Oil on Panel = 6” by 10”

Condition:

• The condition is excellent with a couple tiny specks in the sky, neither of which is annoying. After 109 years, it should come as no surprise that a good cleaning would be in order
• The gesso on wood frame is original to the work, executed on a chamfered wood panel. Gilding for a few corners suffered a bit of a loss, again nothing major to detract from the beauty of the original frame

Frank Brooks, the son of artist Henry Brooks, was born in Salisbury in 1854 and showcased his artwork at various esteemed institutions such as the Royal Academy, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers. Some of his notable pieces can be found in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery and Bristol Art Gallery.

His birthplace, the idyllic countryside of Wiltshire near Salisbury, could have done nothing more than nurture a natural talent. The River Wylye, one of the chalk streams of the Salisbury Plain, meanders through bucolic countryside dotted with chocolate box villages, an area that has drawn fly fishermen to the champagne waters and inspired the Druids of Stonehenge fame.

"If I had 'it' to do over, I think I might pattern my pace after folks who’d have lived near the time and place captured in this painting". Mr. Brooks once described his regular conversations with a tradesperson, a woman who led her team of donkeys as she delivered her wares. "I often walked with her to Coombe and the pace was such that at times I was able to walk backwards and draw."

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