Historical information

John Webster Lawson was born in Sheffield, England in 1855. HE travelled Europe as a young man where he studies art in Paris under Ferdinand Cormon. He arrived in Australia in 1895. His first job in the arts was designing theatre sets for James Cassius Williamson whose theatrical management company was described in its heyday as the largest theatrical firm in the world.
Lawson went on to open an art school in Nhill where one of his pupils was Percy Leason.
Lawson died in Sale in 1941.

Physical description

Oil painting in a gold coloured timber frame. The frame is ornate and detailed with scrolls and decorations and each corner. The scene depicts and rocky beach. Steep cliffs follow the coastline along. There are two seagulls on the beach and several flying above the water. There are sailing boats on the sea. At the top of the cliffs in the top left corner is a building. The sky is blue with white fluffy clouds.

Inscriptions & markings

Signed and dated bottom left