An oil on canvas painting by Scottish American artist, William Hart (1823-1894) depicting a Scottish coastal landscape with castle ruins up high on a cliff. This is a small, beautifully painted scene with bright colors and an almost jewel-like tone to the brushstrokes and colors. In the foreground is a small boat on the shore with what appears to be a family. Looking very closely at the scene, it seems to depict a young boy, crouching down on the side of the boat and blowing a pea shooter at another family member sitting at the end of the boat. In this way, the artist inserted a bit of whimsy and color into this beautiful coastal landscape.

The painting is signed in the lower right corner and measures approximately 8 1/4” x 14” and overall with the gilt frame measures 21 3/8” x 15 3/4”. The painting and frame are both in excellent condition. There is one small restored area on the lower right portion of the frame. There is a name inscribed on the back of the stretcher “M.S. Wotherspoon”. The artist was born in Scotland and moved with his parents to the United States when only 6 years old. He became a portrait painter and later a landscape painter and exhibited his first work at the National Academy in 1840. In 1850, at age 27, he returned to Scotland and stayed for 3 years before returning to the United States. This time in Scotland may well be the inspiration for this painting. Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Hart became one of the most well-known Hudson River School artists.

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A biography of the artist from Pierce Gallery:

William Hart is a formidable Hudson River School artist who painted portraits, landscapes, allegorical and genre paintings.
He was born in Paisley, Scotland on March 31, 1823, five years before his brother and fellow painter James Hart (1828-1901).  The Harts moved to Albany, New York in 1831.  William apprenticed to a carriage maker, but by the time he was 18 he turned to portrait painting.
In 1840, he began to travel across the country painting landscapes, and by 1845 he had painted in Troy, New York; Richmond, Virginia; and in Michigan, where he spent three years.  After a brief trip to Scotland, he returned to Albany in 1847 and opened a studio in New York City in 1854.
Hart painted Peace and Plenty the following year.  In 1855, he was elected an Associate of the National Academy after having established his reputation as a fine landscape painter with Peace and Plenty.  In 1858, he was elected a Full Member of National Academy of Design in New York City, and in 1865, was a founder and President of the American Water Color Society from 1870 to 1873.
He was a frequent exhibitor in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Washington.  His last years were spent in Mt. Vernon, New York, where he died on June 17, 1894.  His work is represented in the Metropolitan Museum, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the National Gallery, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and in many other museums and institutions.