A beautiful river landscape painting of swans on a river by Alfred Glendening Snr. Two white swans can be seen moving gracefully upon the water opposite a bed of waterlilies and rushes. The topography is similar to that of the Thames near Cliveden in Buckinghamshire.

Alfred Augustus Glendening was born in Hampton near Richmond upon Thames in 1840 to James Glendening and Sarah Chandler. Later, the family moved to Greenwich where his father worked as a wharf overseer and later a weighbridge clerk. The area was notable for having the first steam railway passenger line in the capital and Glendening initially found a job working life as a railway clerk, before becoming a full time painter. It is highly likely he took lessons during his spare time, perhaps attending evening classes.

He married Sophia Illman on 3 March 1861 at St Nicholas Church, Plumstead. The couple lived in Southwark and went on to have 7 children together. One of their sons Alfred Glendening Jnr (1861-1907) also became an artist and was taught by him. He made his debut at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1864 and a year later began exhibiting at the Royal Academy, becoming a regular contributor to both. He also exhibited at the Royal Institution from 1865.

By 1869, Glendening had moved to 15 Clarence Road and had become a full time artist. His success allowed him to support his growing family and around 1876, he moved to 161 Bird in Bush Road, Camberwell. He was a popular landscape artist of his time working in many parts of the British Isles. He enjoyed painting the dramatic landscapes of Wales and the Scottish Highlands as well as views of the southern counties, particularly the Thames, Surrey and Sussex.

Glendening made his final move to nearby 6 Sandbourne Road, Deptford in 1891 where he continued living for the rest of his life. He died at Greenwich in 1921. Examples of his paintings are held by the Atkinson Art Gallery, Charlton House & Gardens, Eden District Council, Gallery Oldham, Glasgow Museum, Newport Museum & Art Gallery, Rozelle House Galleries, Southampton City Art Gallery and The Whitaker.