A pleasing genre painting by Ernest Walbourn of a woman next to a duck pond. The woman can be seen leaning on the rails of a wooden bridge overlooking a pond. A pair of geese are depicted swimming in the pond as other birds make their way towards a lane near a farmhouse.

Ernest Charles Walbourn was painter of landscape scenes often depicting young women and children. He was born on 16 February, 1872 in Dalston, Middlesex the second of five children to Charles Salter Walbourn and Elizabeth Kate Jennings. His father owned property in Australia and wanted his son to be an architect and not an artist. However, he later relented helping him set up his own studio in the grounds of the family home and paying for his art tuition.

During the early 1890’s, Walbourn moved to Chingford, Essex from where he started exhibiting at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1895. Over the next 25 years he continued to exhibit at major shows. From 1897, he exhibited works at the Royal Academy including titles such as “Poppies among the Peas” and “On the Allotments”. He also exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists as well as at provincial galleries. His work was widely admired and he sold many of his works through the London Art dealers Sampson & Wolfe.

In 1902, he married the artist Eva Maryon Knight (1879-1954) who often helped him with the backgrounds of his larger canvasses. Their son Peter (Ford) also became an artist. Walbourn’s paintings show a great understanding of the effects of sunlight and shade. With his inclusion of figures and flowers he truly captures the beauty of the Victorian landscape.

Examples of his work can be found in the Bolton Museum, Harris Museum, Herbert Art Gallery and Kirlees Museum.

© Benton Fine Art