Mount Pond, Clapham Common
Watercolour by E. Hull depicting Mount Pond, Clapham Common. 1869.
Watercolour depicting a scene of everyday life in a park. The central feature of the watercolour is a pond, Mount Pond in this case, surrounded by a park. The water reflects the sky and trees, The only movement in the surface comes from the dog swimming in the pond. There is an small island in the middle of the pond, filled with trees and vegetation. Tress can also be seen scattered around the space, of different sizes and shapes. In the foreground and around the pond we can see some gorse shrubs with their bright yellow flowers.
There are several human figures in various areas of the shore of the pond enjoying their day out with their dogs, and more human figures can be seen in the distance using the green space. Buildings can be seen in the background, with a church spire visible on the left side.
The signature of the artist and the date can be seen at the bottom left corner reading "E. Hull 1869".
Mount Pond itself originated as a gravel pit in the mid-18th century and was later landscaped into a picturesque feature of the Common. By the 19th century, it had become a popular subject for artists and a site of leisure for local residents. Hull’s depiction of Mount Pond in 1869 places him among those who captured the evolving character of Clapham Common during a period of urban transformation and growing public access.
Artist Biography
E. Hull Active mid-19th century E. Hull was a British artist working in the mid-19th century, known for their depictions of rural and urban landscapes. Though little is recorded about Hull’s life or career, their work reflects a growing artistic interest in London’s green spaces during a time of rapid urban development and social change.
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