Old Sarum

Brown’s paintings of Old Sarum demonstrate the site’s unique geography in the landscape of Salisbury. There is an element of irony in his use of Old Sarum as a vantage point to paint its successor, Salisbury. It is also testament to Brown’s artistic eye, as he was able to accurately depict the complex topography of the ruins and use it to his advantage to paint its surroundings. He masterfully depict the shadows of the two figures stretching over the grassy verge, indicating his competency with creating and using light in his paintings.

In the above image, we see a rare example of Brown using figures in his work. These figures are likely his wife Elsie and daughter Zoe, demonstrating Brown’s love for his family. Indeed, Zoe became an artist like her father, demonstrating the esteemed role of artistic creation amongst the Brown family.

Eric Brown

Brown was born in 1894 in Salisbury. His father was William Lewis Brown (1864-1922), who became a “portrait painter and artist” around 1906, having previously run a builders’ merchant business.

Eric had an older sister, Dorothy, also an artist (especially watercolours) and a younger brother, Bernard, who became a successful architect in Salisbury.He also had a daughter, Zoë Napier Brown 1926-2011, who was a good painter though she worked in the field of social services.

Eric Brown always painted in oil views of his local Salisbury; the works have a innocence about them that captures the English countryside perfectly.