Figures on a Beach, Northern France

This early work dates from the period that Wyld was living in Epernay, France. In 1826 he was asked by a London-based wine importer to set up a branch in France and he remained there for six years making regular trips to Paris and the French coast. In 1833, Wyld's younger brother took over his job in Epernay and he set off on a sketching tour to Algiers where he remained for six months.

A watercolour of the same size and similar composition. `View of Algiers' is in the Musee Boucher de Parthes, Abbeville (see Marcia Pointon, Bonington, Francia & Wyld, 1985, p.73, ill. as fig. 35). This work shows the early influence of Bonington on Wyld’s work. He knew Bonington’s father while working in Calais in the 1820s and took lessons in watercolours from Francia, another important influence.