JOHN GLOVER, O.W.S. (HOUGHTON-ON-THE-HILL 1767-1849 DEDDINGTON, TASMANIA)
Travellers, amongst ruins in an extensive mountain landscape
oil on panel
38 x 51 cm. (15 x 20 in.)

John Glover (1767–1849) was a prominent landscape painter whose work profoundly shaped the visual representation of Australia's natural environment, so much so that he was often titled the "Father of Australian Landscape Painting". He moved to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) in 1831 and brought a European Romantic aesthetic to his depictions of the Australian wilderness, blending artistic traditions with an appreciation for the distinct qualities of the Australian light and landscape.
By the early 19th century, Glover had established himself as a leading painter of picturesque rural scenes, influenced by artists such as Claude Lorrain (1600/1604-1682), Richard Wilson (1714-1782), and J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851), as can be seen in the present example.
His works featured idealised pastoral landscapes, often imbued with a soft, glowing light. He is particularly noted for his ability to capture atmospheric effects, such as mist and sunlight filtering through trees.
In 1805, he became a founding member of the Old Watercolour Society, and became president in 1807, cementing his reputation in Britain. Notbaly, he has exhibited works at both the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists.

References
- McLean, Ian. "The Australianness of the English Claude: nation and empire in the art of John Glover." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art 7.1 (2006): 125-142.
- John Glover Society (10 May 2006). "About John Glover". Glover Prize. Archived from the original.
- Auerbach, Jeffrey. "The Impossibility of Artistic Escape: Thomas Watling, John Glover, and the Australian Picturesque." Journal of Australian Colonial History 7 (2005): 161-180.

Provenance
Purchased Australia by the family of the present owner, thence by decent
Private Collection, London