The Stepping Stones
‘The Stepping Stones’ by John White Abbott, 1824. This oil on canvas depicts a family group: a man leading a donkey and dog, a woman carrying a baby and helping a younger child cross a stream, via the stepping stones. On the left a group of sheep are seated. On the right behind the family a man herds cattle. In the distance farm buildings are seen on the hillside.
John White Abbott (1763-1851) was born and educated in Exeter, where he also practised as a surgeon. Through his uncle, James White, he met Francis Towne who initially gave him drawing lessons and later became a sketching companion. Although White Abbott exhibited annually at the Royal Academy between 1793 and 1805, he never gave up his profession as a surgeon. In 1771 he made his only extended tour out of the West Country travelling through Derbyshire, Lancashire, and the Lake District and up to Scotland.
John White Abbott (1763-1851) was born and educated in Exeter, where he also practised as a surgeon. Through his uncle, James White, he met Francis Towne who initially gave him drawing lessons and later became a sketching companion. Although White Abbott exhibited annually at the Royal Academy between 1793 and 1805, he never gave up his profession as a surgeon. In 1771 he made his only extended tour out of the West Country travelling through Derbyshire, Lancashire, and the Lake District and up to Scotland.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 52/1929/1
- Category
- Fine Art
- Collection Class
- Paintings
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Common Name
- The Stepping Stones
- Simple Name
- painting
- Inscription Transcription
- JWA 1824; Francis Abbott by 29th Augt 1845 by JW Abbott
- Period Classification
- George IV (1820-1830)
- Production Town
- Exeter
- Production County
- Devon
- Production Country
- United Kingdom: England
- Production Date
- 1824
- Production Person Initials
- John White
- Production Person Surname
- Abbott
- Production Year Low
- Production Year High
