Ploughing in Stormy Weather, 1853 (oil on canvas)

This highly successful self taught painter, knighted for his illustrative work, also painted moody landscapes influenced by Constable. After a debilitating series of strokes from 1888, several paintings remained unfinished in his studio, sketched in with the brush in the manner of late Rubens. His studio assistant and amanuensis, Catherine Eggar, to whom he left £10,000 in his will, finished this one, labelling it so on the back. She also exhibited as an artist in her own right, both under her maiden name of Eggar and her married name of Banks, and wrote a biographical note about Gilbert prefacing the posthumous exhibition of his work that she largely organised. titled and labelled "Mrs. J. Oldham Banks/ Oil. unfinished. designed by Sir John Gilbert in [his]/ illness. finished by Catherine A. Eggar (B[anks)]/ Ploughing Stormy Weather/ 53"