A
riverscape, it depicts a
regatta held on the
River Yare near
Great Yarmouth. Crome was an influential figure in the
Norwich School of painters. As he died the same year it was possibly assisted or completed by his son
John Berney Crome. It featured at the 1821 Exhibition of the Norwich Society. It is also known by the longer title
Yarmouth Water Frolic – Evening; Boats Assembling Previous to the Rowing Match. It depicts a traditional custom in which the
Mayor of Norwich and Mayor of Great Yarmouth met on their
stage barges and then were accompanied by other vessels on the river. These were popular, social events in
Norfolk drawing thousands of spectators. Today the painting is in the collection of
Kenwood House in
London having been part of the large
Iveagh Bequest by
Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh in 1929. ==References==