The artwork “Dover,” created by Richard Wilson in 1747, belongs to the Rococo art movement and depicts a landscape genre.
In the artwork, a serene coastal landscape unfolds under a broad, expansive sky dotted with soft, luminous clouds. The gentle play of light and shadow bathes the scene in a warm, golden hue, characteristic of the Rococo style’s emphasis on elegance and beauty. In the midground, a formidable castle or fortification rests atop rolling hills, overlooking a tranquil seashore where the cliffs meet the sea. A cluster of rustic houses forms a quaint village, their rooftops forming a patchwork of earthen colors amidst verdant foliage. Distant ships dot the quiet waters, adding to the peaceful yet dynamic composition. The foreground is cloaked in deeper shadows, drawing the observer’s eye towards the illuminated central horizon, where nature’s grandeur is meticulously rendered by the artist.
