Why so large cost, having so short a lease 1920

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale made this watercolor painting, sometime around the turn of the century. There's a real delicacy to her touch, and I get the sense she’s trying to capture a feeling or mood, rather than just depicting a historical scene. I love the way she handles the light, especially the way it dapples across the tombstones and the figure’s clothing. You can almost feel the cool dampness of the stone. The texture is incredible, from the feathery plume in the man’s hat to the rough-hewn surface of the grave. See how she’s used the paint to suggest the lichen growing on the stone? It’s amazing! Look at the tiny details around the gothic archway, those tiny touches of grey that give the painting depth and texture. It’s not just about what you see, but what you feel when you look at it. I can imagine Eleanor being interested in the work of artists like John William Waterhouse, artists concerned with storytelling, but in a way that leaves space for emotion and interpretation.