Pen Ink Drawing Low Fell From Lanthwaite Hill Lake District by Alfred Wainwright





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Description


Title Low Fell, from Lanthwaite Hill Original pen-and-ink masterpiece landscape drawing | Lake District, Cumbria | Signed by Alfred Wainwright (1907–1991)

Subject & medium
A beautifully observed Lake District view of Low Fell (Cumbria), drawn from near the summit of Lanthwaite Hill—a classic Wainwright vantage that combines pastoral field geometry with the fell’s distinctive mass and ridge line. The work is executed in pen and ink on paper, the medium most closely associated with Wainwright’s best-known output and the visual language of his Lakeland publications.

Composition & technique
This is a quietly powerful example of Wainwright’s draughtsmanship: precise, economical, and richly descriptive without ever becoming overworked. Tonal depth is achieved entirely through line density, direction and layered hatching, rather than wash—giving the scene a timeless clarity.
In the foreground, darker, more emphatic mark-making anchors woodland and scrub, while the mid-ground opens into a measured patchwork of fields and boundaries that reads almost cartographically. The fell itself is constructed through controlled cross-hatching and contour-led linework that conveys slope, texture and distance with remarkable efficiency. Above, the sky is treated with light, restrained strokes—suggesting cloud movement while keeping the landscape dominant. The absence of figures (typical of Wainwright) gives the image a contemplative stillness: the land, and only the land, holds the stage.

Historical significance
This composition is documented as “Drawing 231: Low Fell, from Lanthwaite Hill”. The reference notes that the viewpoint is close to the summit of Lanthwaite Hill and—critically—that the view forms the title page of the Low Fell chapter in The Western Fells.
Wainwright’s seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells was produced from his hand-produced pen-and-ink manuscript pages, and the series’ first publication run spans 1955–1966.
The Western Fells (Book Seven) was first published in 1966.
Date proof (mid-1960s): Because this specific view is tied to the Low Fell chapter/title-page usage in The Western Fells (first published 1966), the most defensible working date for an original, guide-era drawing of this composition is mid-1960s, prior to publication—approximately c. 1964–1966.

About the artist
Alfred Wainwright MBE (1907–1991) is one of Britain’s most loved fell-writers and landscape draughtsmen. His Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, created as fully handwritten and hand-illustrated manuscript pages, became the definitive cultural document of Lakeland walking and remains deeply collected.
Original Wainwright works have demonstrated strong market demand; for example, a Wainwright pen-and-ink sketch sold at auction for £10,200 in 2020, reported as a record price for his artwork at the time.

Signed
Signed in pencil “A Wainwright” lower right, and titled “LOW FELL” lower left.

Framed
Mounted with a recently fitted white border mat for a clean, gallery-style presentation.
Framed in a luxurious Larson Juhl baroque-style black lacquered Radiata Pine moulding.
Protected by AR70 museum-grade glass, offering excellent clarity and UV protection.

Dimensions Framed 47.2 cm (H) × 52 cm (W) × 5.5 cm (D)

Provenance
Acquired from a private Cumbria collection then from a notable Cumbria auction 1818 house long-established saleroom and accompanied by a Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD label verso.
Literature linkage / identification: The composition is documented as Drawing 231: “Low Fell, from Lanthwaite Hill,” and recorded as forming the title page of the Low Fell chapter Book Seven in The Western Fells Book(first published 1966), supporting the mid-1960s dating framework. A copy of this book is also included with this masterpiece.
From a notable Cumbria auction house long-established saleroom
Private exhibition at the Famous Lord Hill Musuem "Where the Fells Breathe: A Lakeland Meditation February , 2026"

Why you’ll love it
Museum-grade monochrome presence — timeless, elegant, and interior-friendly
A genuine Lakeland subject with strong Wainwright collector appeal
Historically anchored to Wainwright’s mid-1960s guide era (pre-1966 publication context)
Signed and titled — the details collectors look for
Premium framing package — Larson Juhl moulding + AR70 museum glass
A meaningful gift for walkers, Cumbrians, and British topographical art collectors

Condition report
The artwork presents in fine used condition. Light, age-appropriate foxing may be present, consistent with an older paper sheet. The frame is in very good condition with minor natural imperfections consistent with artisan-made presentation. there is noticable foxing staining on the pages of the Western Fells Book Seven that is included with the drawing.

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Reserve: $10,800.00

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