Traditional landscape paintings have been missing from my blog posts for a while so I thought I might correct this by highlighting this delightful study of Ludlow Castle by Samuel Scott from around 1750.

Scott (1702-1772) was a British landscape artist based in London. He is most well known for his waterscapes of the sea and the River Thames in London. But his exquisite works featuring Westminster Bridge and Windsor Castle show him to be equally at home with stone. The view is from the south west above the River Teme. The quality of the brushwork matches the great landscapists of the eighteenth century.

Ludlow Castle is my choice as we spent a few days visiting the town last week. There is much to see including St Laurence’s Church with much medieval stained glass and, of course it’s castle. In the late Middle Ages Ludlow was effectively the capital of Wales with the castle acting as the Yorkist military HQ. Later on it is where Prince Arthur, honeymooned with his new bride, Katherine of Aragon. He died mysteriously a couple of months later so his younger brother Henry became heir to the throne and took a fancy to Katherine – the rest, as they say, is history.

In the museum gallery is a lovely painting of the arrival of Prince Arthur, the Prince of Wales, with his Spanish bride and entourage by Paul Workman.

Do visit Ludlow Castle on a dry day as it was a little boggy underfoot the day we went.

Westminster Bridge image © Tate

Prince Arthur image © Powis Estates