A view of Pelter Bridge, Rydal, Cumbria

This view of Pelter Bridge in Cumbria is a fine example of the landscapes Ibbetson painted after his arrival at Rydal in 1799. The wild scenery and the bridge's picturesque decay reflect the developing cult of the Picturesque, whilst the beautifully captured effect of the transient weather shows the influence of Joseph Wright of Derby, an artist who had also painted at Rydal in the late 1790s. Rydal Mount, situated near the bridge depicted in this view, was the home of William Wordsworth from 1813 until the poet's death in 1850.

16 December 1949

'Then with Cruden to Doig, Wilson & Wheatley to see Farringdon's drawings of Berwick-on-Tweed. I saw a fine oil painting of an English landscape by Julius Ibbetson.'

Professor Sir Albert Richardson, P.R.A.