Museum collections often contain more objects than it is possible to display. Some are too fragile, in poor condition or are too large to move or safely display. Each week we feature one such object from the Museums Worcestershire collections

BENJAMIN Leader Williams was born in Worcester – the third of 11 children – to notable civil engineer Edward Leader Williams and Sarah Whiting.

His father was a keen amateur artist and Benjamin would often accompany him on sketching trips along the banks of the Severn.

The family lived at Diglis House, now Diglis Hotel, and Benjamin was educated at Worcester’s Royal Grammar School. He initially worked at his father’s office as a draughtsman while studying art in the evenings at the Worcester School of Design.

In 1857 he changed his name to Benjamin Williams Leader to distinguish himself from the many other painters with the surname Williams.

He went on to become Worcestershire’s greatest artist and was an international success with his paintings of the idyllic English landscape.

During the First World War, these images took on a new emotional appeal with their connotations of a landscape worth fighting for. 

Though he was one of Britain’s most successful landscape painters, he was derided by art critics due to his popularity, but nevertheless his work was loved by the nation.

This painting is After The Storm which Leader completed in 1910. Dark clouds disappear as the white waters of the river rush downstream following heavy rain. This vast and dramatic scene is an example of ‘the sublime’ – a celebration of the immensity and turbulence of nature that was a prominent theme in 18th and 19th-century landscape painting.

The painting’s striking beauty, the popularity and importance of Leader, and the resonance of its title made it a prime candidate for the exhibition, A Welcome View, which will be on display when the Art Gallery & Museum reopens.

Unfortunately, it is too large and heavy to be hung by our collections team whilst social distancing, so we decided to show it off here instead!

Luckily, we have many more wonderful artworks we have chosen for the exhibition, which will showcase the beauty of our county through works in the museum’s collection.

We are looking forward to the period after this particular storm, when we can welcome visitors through our doors once again.

Check museumsworcestershire.org.uk and @worcestermuseum on Twitter to hear about our reopening as it’s announced.