The Rivers of England, from "Illustrated London News" 1856

"The Rivers of England" is a 1856 engraving by English artist Edward Armitage (1817-1896), now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. The artwork depicts a group of figures representing the rivers of England, gathered around a central figure, possibly representing the River Thames. The depiction uses a dramatic and allegorical style, common in Victorian-era art. The work's focus on personified natural elements speaks to the Romantic ideals of nature and the sublime that influenced 19th-century art.