Saint Martin in the Alps

A delicate and atmospheric work by one of Pre-Raphaelitism's most-underrated followers. Inchbold studied watercolour painting under Louis Haghe, before entering the Royal Academy schools in 1847. He was a friend of John Ruskin, and an early adherent to Ruskin's belief in fidelity to nature - a technical aim that furthered a spiritual credence; through works like Inchbold's Study in March - In Early Spring (1855, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford) we can truly understand Ruskin's claim that we can see God through Nature's 'infinite variety'. Inchbold visited Europe many times throughout his career. As he matured his work became more impressionistic but lost none of its fine sensibility.