A charming river landscape view of the Thames at Isleworth with All Saints Church & The London Apprentice inn. In the foreground, a small boat containing four figures can be seen rowing across the river. Meanwhile, other figures are shown working at a small quay situated on the opposite side in front of the All Saints Church and The London Apprentice inn. The quay was the site of the Isleworth Ferry which first operated during the reign of Henry VII and crossed from the steps in front of the church and along the Thames to Old Deer Park in Richmond. The London Apprentice is a Grade II listed Georgian pub which was first recorded as a licenced inn around 1731 and continues to operate today. All Saints Church was built during the 14th century with the main part being rebuilt during the 18th century. In 1943 a fire destroyed most of the church with only the tower remaining. The present church was reconstructed in 1970 incorporating the original tower.

William Richard Stone was born in Sidmouth, Devon in 1839, the son of Thomas Taylor Stone and Ellen Stone. His father was a master carver and gilder and he initially followed in his footsteps working as a carver gilder. By the 1860's he was living in London and married Georgiana Matilda Meadows, the daughter of a carver gilder, on 7 May 1869. Together, they had 3 children and lived in Charing Cross for a time.

During the 1870’s, Stone established himself as a successful landscape artist. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and Suffolk Street and became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists. He painted rustic scenes usually with the inclusion of figures and worked around Kent and Surrey as well as Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Wales. By 1881, Stone and his family had moved to Lancaster Road, Kensington. He died in Richmond, Surrey on 12 March 1889.

Examples of his work can be found in museums such as the Dudley Museum, Birmingham Museum, Radnorshire Museum, Wales and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery.

© Benton Fine Art