Painting, 'Orford Castle, Suffolk', by Henry Bright (1910-1873), oil on canvas, 1856; 104.8 cm x 168.7 cm; signed and dated lower right in brown 'H Bright 1856'
Orford Castle was built between 1165 and 1173 by King Henry II. This painting shows its keep and its unusual polygonal tower looking towards Orford Ness and the Suffolk coast. Bright's dramatic depiction of ancient building, rugged terrain and swelling clouds perfectly captures the high Victorian taste for grandeur and theatricality in art, along with an accurate portrayal of the natural world. The painting was highly praised by a contemporary reviewer, who remarked that in it 'all is poetic, yet all is real'. Large-scale paintings like this were often made to be exhibited in venues such as the Royal Academy or the British Institution.
