Wind, Rain and Sunshine - David Cox

A figure on a white horse travels through a blustery British landscape under a changing sky. David Cox uses loose brushwork to capture the physical sensation of wind and rain.

David Cox painted this work during his later period when he increasingly turned to oil as a medium. The composition depicts a figure on a white horse navigating a path during a sudden change in weather. A green umbrella provides some protection against the elements. The trees on the right lean heavily under the force of the wind. The sky shows a mixture of dark rain clouds and patches of bright light. Cox was a member of the Birmingham School. He is often associated with the transition between traditional topographical art and the more expressive styles of the mid-nineteenth century. His brushwork here is loose and energetic. He used thick applications of paint to convey the physical sensation of the wind and the dampness of the air. This technique differs from his earlier, more precise watercolour works. The artist moved to Harborne, near Birmingham, in 1841. This move allowed him to focus on oil painting and explore the effects of light and weather on the English countryside. The scene captures the atmospheric instability of the British climate. The low horizon line allows the sky to dominate the upper two-thirds of the canvas. Birds are visible in the distance, scattered by the gusts. The foreground contains rough vegetation and a muddy track. These elements are rendered with earthy tones that contrast with the cool blues and greys of the storm. The white horse acts as a bright point of contrast against the dark, shadowed ground. Cox often visited the coast of North Wales and the sands of Lancashire. These locations provided the inspiration for his studies of shifting weather patterns. This painting is currently held in the collection of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.