Lot Essay
Elements of his contemporaries Samuel Prout, O.W.S. (1783-1852) and Joshua Cristall, P.O.W.S (1763-1847) can be seen in Clennel's work. In 1819 after completing his largest project an oil of 'The Banquet of the Allied Sovereigns in the Guildhall' he became insane. Much of his work reflects an ability to portray both action and movement and to convey the elements, such as the storm with lightning bolt depicted here. This work in many ways reads better than an oil by the same artist of a similar subject matter also entitled 'The Baggage Wagon' now housed in the Laing Art Gallery, to which presumably the present lot relates to and is therefore dateable to c. 1812.