Oil on Canvas
30 x 50 in (76 x 127 cm)
Signed lower left, and inscribed by the artist "Richmond on Thames"
Provenance
English Private Collection
Richmond Bridge is one of the finest works produced by the Victorian landscape painter, Edmund Niemann. Light, colour and tone are all beautifully captured by the artist, with a breadth and truth that in some ways looks forward to the achievements of the Impressionists later in the century.
While the view is topographically accurate and still clearly recogniseable today (and indeed largely unchanged), Niemann has successfully married topography with the art of picture making. The tow path and rail lead the eye from the foreground through to the bridge and beyond, while the trees at either side frame the scene, and act as repoussoirs. Bold accents of light on the bridge and on the buildings are complemented by touches of local colour such as the red on the boats and on the bonnet of the lady on the tow path. The sunlight on the tan coloured sails, and reflection of the sky in the puddles of the tow path are brilliantly captured.
BIOGRAPHY OF EDMUND NIEMANN
Islington c.1813 - 1876 High Wycombe
Edmund John Niemann was a painter of landscapes, marine and angling subjects. He was born in Islington and later settled in High Wycombe. Niemann was a devoted artist with an incessant love for painting all aspects of nature. His works were exhibited from 1844 - 1872 at The Royal Academy and from 1845 - 1867 at The British Institute, Suffolk Street and elsewhere. He became secretary to The Portland Gallery in Regent Street, London.