Paper
Name Class Date

Peter De Wint, Bridge Over A Stream With Figures. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Peter De Wint originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/peter-de-wint/
Artist’s dates
1784 – 1849

In context

Bridge Over A Stream With Figures — Peter De Wint

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1780
  2. 1790
  3. 1800
  4. 1810
  5. 1820
  6. 1830
  7. 1840

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 65 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Peter De Wint (1784–1849) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Driftwood #a38368

    Catalogued palette

    • #A38368
    • #736051
    • #8B715C
    • #997B63

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Driftwood
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Peter De Wint over the last twelve months — 3 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 85.7%
    2. 2 United Kingdom 8.9%
    3. 3 United States of America 5.4%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Peter De Wint

    1. 1 Landscape With Chestnut Tree 4.5%
    2. 2 Black Gang Chine, Isle Of Wight 4.5%
    3. 3 John Keats 4.5%
    4. 4 Newport Arch, Lincoln 4.5%
    5. 5 Portrait Of The Artist's Mother 3.0%
    6. 6 Farmhand Looking Out Over A Field With Trees 3.0%
    7. 7 Lincoln From The South 3.0%
    8. 8 A Woman Sorting Washing 3.0%
    9. 9 A Rustic Holding A Scythe 1.5%
    10. 10 Still Life With A Basket Between Two Crocks 1.5%
    11. 11 Bridge Over A Stream With Figures this painting 1.5%
    12. 12 A Drover At The Edge Of A Wood, Lincoln In The Distance 1.5%
    13. 13 The Burning Of The Houses Of Parliament 1.5%
    14. 14 Still Life- Basket 1.5%
    15. 15 Study Of Sorrel, Cow Parsley And Willow Saplings 1.5%
    16. 16 Gamekeeper On A Chestnut Horse 1.5%
    17. 17 Stokesay Castle, Shropshire 1.5%
    18. 18 An Old Cottage 1.5%
    19. 19 A Terrier, Sitting Facing Left 1.5%
    20. 20 Landscape With Farm Buildings 1.5%

    Together these works take 48.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 216 works by this artist, of which 54 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 11 of them, with 1.5% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Peter De Wint

    Born in Stone, United Kingdom

    Early Life and Training

    Birth and Family: Peter de Wint was born on January 21, 1784, in Stone, Staffordshire, England. His father was a physician of Dutch descent who had emigrated from New York.

    Initial Career Path: Initially destined for the medical profession like his father, De Wint's artistic inclinations led him to London in 1802.

    Apprenticeship with John Raphael Smith: He became an apprentice to John Raphael Smith, a mezzotint engraver and portrait painter. This provided foundational skills in drawing and engraving techniques.

    Formal Training under John Varley: In 1806, De Wint secured his freedom from the apprenticeship by producing eighteen oil paintings. Subsequently, he studied under John Varley, a prominent watercolorist, who introduced him to Dr. Monro’s informal academy for young artists. This environment fostered exposure to influential figures like Turner and Girtin.

    Artistic Style and Development

    Early Exhibitions: De Wint began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1807, quickly gaining recognition for his landscapes.

    Membership in Artistic Societies: He became an Associate of the Old Watercolour Society in 1810 and a full member the following year, solidifying his position within the British art scene.

    Watercolor Mastery: De Wint is widely regarded as one of the foremost English watercolorists. His ability to capture subtle nuances of light and atmosphere with a limited palette—typically consisting of just ten pigments—is particularly noteworthy. He favored ivory-tinted Creswick paper, contributing to the delicate quality of his works.

    Oil Painting: While primarily known for watercolors, De Wint also worked in oils, demonstrating versatility.

    Key Themes and Subjects

    Lincolnshire Landscapes: A significant portion of De Wint’s oeuvre features landscapes inspired by his frequent visits to Lincolnshire. These paintings often depict idyllic scenes of haymaking, rural cottages, and expansive views of the countryside, reflecting a deep appreciation for the English landscape.

    Genre and Subject Matter: His subjects often reflected a Romantic sensibility, emphasizing emotion, atmosphere, and the beauty of nature. He also produced portraits, including a notable oil painting of John Keats.

    Legacy and Historical Significance

    Critical Acclaim: Alfred William Rich famously asserted that De Wint “ever came nearer painting a perfect picture than did Peter de Wint,” highlighting his exceptional skill and artistic vision.

    Influence on Later Artists: De Wint’s delicate watercolor technique and atmospheric landscapes influenced subsequent generations of British artists, contributing to the development of English landscape painting.

    Museum Holdings: His works are held in prestigious collections worldwide, including Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and The Collection (Lincoln), attesting to their enduring artistic merit and historical significance.

    Death: He died on January 30, 1849, in London.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Peter De Wint originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/peter-de-wint/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Bridge Over A Stream With Figures

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Wint, Peter De. Bridge Over A Stream With Figures. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/
    APA
    Wint, Peter De (n.d.). Bridge Over A Stream With Figures [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/
    Chicago
    Peter De Wint. Bridge Over A Stream With Figures. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/
    Harvard
    Wint, Peter De (n.d.) Bridge Over A Stream With Figures. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/peter-de-wint-bridge-over-a-stream-with-figures-9CW7UH-en/

    Look closely

    Bridge Over A Stream With Figures — Peter De Wint

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: canals and bridges, stream. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Portrait Of The Artist's Mother, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    What aliases or alternate names does Peter De Wint have?

    Peter De Wint is also known as De Wint.

    Where can I see a preview of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures"?

    To preview a reproduction of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint, open the artwork's Preview page.

    How much light do the colors of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" appear to reflect?

    The luminance recorded for "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint is gentle luminance.

    Why is the copyright status of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" what it is?

    "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1849.

    Can the image of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint be freely reproduced?

    "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. This status governs how the image of the work may be reproduced.

    How do contrast and harmony combine in "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures"?

    The color analysis of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint records a serene contrast and a unified palette harmony.

    Where do the visitors of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint come from?

    A Stats page exists for "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures". It charts the monthly visits of the artwork and of the artist's other works, with country and language breakdowns.

    What is the dominant color of "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" by Peter De Wint?

    The color that stands out most in "Bridge Over A Stream With Figures" is driftwood (#a38368). The dominant color is useful when matching an artwork to an interior.