North Aspects of Lea Castle and West Aspect of Wolverly, Cookly, Worcestershire 1811 - 1821

John Carter made this watercolor and graphite drawing, "North Aspects of Lea Castle and West Aspect of Wolverly, Cookly, Worcestershire," during the late 18th or early 19th century. Carter's architectural drawings reflect a romanticized view of medieval structures, a nostalgia that resonated deeply in British society. During this period, the gentry's power was visibly manifested in the landscape through architecture. These castles symbolize not just the architectural style, but the history and social structures of feudal Britain. The buildings stand starkly against the bare paper, their weathered facades softened by the delicate touch of watercolor, evoking a sense of timelessness and decay. In these crumbling stone walls and silent towers, we see the shadows of past social hierarchies, a stark reminder of the power dynamics embedded in the landscape.