'St Paul's from the river; Morning sun in Winter', by Henri Le Sidaner, 1906-1907

Artist: Henri Le Sidaner (1862-1939)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 19.8 x 146.5 cm
Accession number: WAG 2373

Purchased from the Liverpool Autumn Exhibition in 1911

In this scene of St Paul's Cathedral the light of the morning sun creates warm colourful glints on the drum of the dome and on the riverfront below. The cathedral appears to float above the landscape and the composition suggests Le Sidaner was concerned more with creating an atmospheric mood than in achieving truth to nature.

To create this painting Le Sidaner painted from memory and a few quick preparatory sketches. He worked in the studio, unlike many other artists painting in the Impressionist style, who preferred to work 'en plein air'.