Boys Bathing on the River Wensum, Norwich 1817

John Crome painted these boys bathing in the River Wensum near Norwich in the early 19th century, using oil on canvas. Crome was a leading figure in the Norwich School of painters, who were known for their close observation of the local landscape. But these kinds of informal scenes also served as statements of local and national pride. At a time of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, paintings like this idealized rural life, evoking a sense of timelessness. It draws on well-established visual codes from European art, such as the classical nude and the pastoral landscape, but the setting is distinctly English. The clothing drying on the fence suggests a working environment. The Wensum was a working river. As art historians, our role is to understand the social and cultural context in which art is made. By researching the history of Norwich, the Norwich School of painters, and British landscape painting, we can gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful painting.