Object: ‘A View of Cambridge’ Painting
Date: 1840
Category: Art
Museum Listing: CAMFK:17.2016
Price of Adoption: £50.00/month
This painting by London painter J.M. Ward is ‘A View of Cambridge from Castle Hill’, and depicts a panorama of Cambridge as viewed from Castle Hill. The duality of Cambridge as rural, fenland and university town are represented in this painting with the rolling fenland to the left showing rural life and livestock, and the majesty of the college buildings to the right. King’s College chapel can be seen dominating the urban centre.
The painting also represents a divide with figures in Cambridges academic and the town inhabitants. Town women are represented conversing with figures in academic dress. This presents a romanticised view of the ‘town and gown’ divide.