The current painting on our Locals landing page is Peter de Wint's ‘A Cornfield’ (1815). Painted as the Napoleonic Wars were ending , as was the premium that the British government placed on domestic agriculture due to Napoleon's attempted 'Continental System/Blockade' which had severely limited trade. The harvest scene in the painting reassuringly stood for social harmony and security that was soon to end. The infamous "Corn Laws" were to follow (also 1815) which gutted small and medium farmers because of their protectionist nature and intent on keeping the large land owning class content with a monopoly on wheat, oat, and corn pricing.
This idyllic pastoral scene that de Wint painted would soon be replaced by mass unrest. Food prices increased, unemployment grew and rioting soon followed. The Corn Laws were not repelled until 1846.
The painting is currently displayed at the Victoria and Albert museum in London.
I will soon be deleting this site. It is time for other adventures in life. I would like to thank all who came by and said hello. I wish you all the very best.
pic - Mill Bay Beach Aurora 1-15-23