Lhen (Watermill)
Date made: 1904
Artist: Knox, Archibald
Description: In Lhen (Watermill) Knox has painted the mill buildings and wheel as blocks of colour against a pale sky. The white buildings, bathed in pink rosy hues, represent the warm glow of a summer sunset. The feeling of calm tranquillity is further suggested by two white doves flying serenely in front of the mill.
Most of Knox’s watercolours are unsigned and give no indication of date or title or even where on the Island they were painted. This is an unusual work in being titled and dated, 'Lhen VI 1904'.
Knox appears to have produced his watercolour paintings as a series of artistic studies, attempting to capture the changing qualities of light and its effect on the landscape. The traditional artistic maxim that one should practice one’s artistic craft every day appears to be one that Knox adhered to as he constantly refined and perfected his watercolour technique.
Background:
The Lhen was a corn mill with an undershot waterwheel, namely a waterwheel that sits on top of the stream and is turned by the water flowing underneath. It was situated on the Lhen stream upstream of the Lhen Bridge in Jurby in the north of the Island.
A mill is first recorded at the Lhen in the manorial roll (1511-1515) and the tenant, Gilbert McHelly, paid a rent to the Lord of Mann of 20 shillings per annum for the milling and freshwater fishing rights at the site. The mill was sold in 1809 by J. Corlett to the Duke of Atholl for £600, but by 1823 it was estimated that £200 was required for improvements. It was suggested in 1858 that if the mill was demolished and the drainage altered, it would improve the surrounding farmland. It appears this suggestion was never followed up as the mill building still stands, although the dam has been filled in and most traces of the building’s history as a mill have disappeared.
Comparisons:
In contrast to John Miller Nicholson’s painting of Baldwin Mill which makes it obvious it is a mill and waterwheel, Knox’s watercolour is less clear. It is necessary to know the building at firsthand in order to recognise the two mill buildings and waterwheel between them.
Measurements: artwork: 41 cm x 55 cm
Materials: watercolour on paper
Object name: Painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1998-0017
Subject tags : Isle of Man
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