Fishing Couple
English School: Late 18th Century
Gouache on blue-toned paper
11.75 x 8.25 inches
Charming courtship scene in which a young man with a fishing rod shows a smiling young woman a large, freshly caught fish. The scene takes place on a stylized river bank, with the water flowing over the edge to form a whimsical pedestal for the figures.
The decorative composition and the combination of pastoral and romantic subject matter are in keeping with late 18th century transitional rococo/neoclassical art. Although this original work is unsigned, it was common in this period for well-rounded ladies to master the art of drawing and painting and execute works of this type as a pastime. For example, the renowned natural history artist George Brookshaw (b. 1753) gave private lessons and published A New Treatise on Flower Painting; or Every Lady her Own Drawing Master (c. 1818) and two companion volumes on painting birds and fruit.
