Gezicht op Saint Andrew's Church in Eastleach before 1866

This is William Savage's "Gezicht op Saint Andrew's Church in Eastleach," created sometime between the late 18th and early 19th century. Savage was born in 1770, placing him in a generation experiencing the early throes of industrialization and urbanization in England. In this period, representations of the rural idyll gained popularity, often glossing over the realities of agrarian life and labor. Consider how Savage, as an artist, might have been influenced by these cultural trends, even as he maintained a connection to the land through his work. Savage’s image could be seen as contributing to a narrative of English heritage and identity that selectively highlights certain aspects of the past. How does this image make you feel? Does it romanticize or realistically depict rural life?