THE LARKE'S NEST
Pastoralism
This gallery presents a thoughtful collection of drawings by my great-grandfather, John Larke, devoted to the quiet strength and enduring presence of farms. Through these works, Larke captures the character of rural life—barns weathered by time, fences leaning with age, and fields shaped by years of labor and care. Working from direct observation, he was drawn to the rhythm and resilience of agricultural landscapes. Whether sketching the curve of a dirt road or the clustered forms of outbuildings along the horizon, Larke approached each subject with deep respect for the people and histories rooted in the land. These images are more than depictions of place—they are tributes to a way of life shaped by seasons, labor, and tradition. Through this collection, we invite viewers to reflect on the quiet dignity of farms and the lasting beauty found in their honest, timeworn forms.
Title: Quiet scene at Sandycove Acres
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: April, 9, 1988
Medium: Pencil/pen paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Details on the back: April 9/88
Title: Udora Mill "1885"
Location: Udora Mill, Ontario, Canada
Date: June, 7/ 1988
Medium: Pencil on paper (one of the rare drawings done in pencil alone)
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back: May 19, 1979
Ontario's Udora Mill 1865
The history of the site can be traced back to 1819, built on a stone foundation 75ft by 60 ft in 1905 the grinding stones were removed and metal rollers installed.
The machinery can still be driven by water power, This mill has all wooden gears and the site also includes a seven acre mill pond.
Title: La Mancha Farm ,after the fire in February.
Location: Eden Mills, Wellington County Ontario, Canada
Date: Feb, 16 /1988
Medium: Pencil/Pen on paper PC with pencil crayon
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back: Feb 16/88
After the fire .
Note the roof hanging down in sheets.
Title: Old Farm home
Location: Conc 2 Durham, Zephyr, Ontario, Canada
Date: July/20/1976
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper
Size: 8" x 4.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Old farm home.
Near Zephyr, Ont.
Conc 2 Durham
Weller home
Century Farm
Title: Lovely old "Gingerbread"farm home.
Location: W. Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada
Date: Oct/ 19/ 1972
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 9" x 6"
Book: 1
Details on the back: Lovely old "gingerbread" farm house. Situated on #88 Hwy. Half mile West of Bradford Ont, One storey wing is a wood storage shed and carriage house. Note old lightning rods on roof The Stoddart family settled here in 1813 coming from Ireland. Attend Middletown Church
Title: Lormark Farms
Location: Middle Block Rd. , Ontario, Canada
Date: Aug. 15/ 1988
Medium: Pencil/Pen on paper PC with pencil
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Title: "Maynihan" Farm Home.
Location: Aurora, Ontario, Canada
Date: No Date
Medium: Pencil/pen on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*
Title: Old Log Stable
Location: 16 Ave & 7th, Markham, Ontario, Canada
Date: Mar, 1978
Medium: Pencil on paper
Size: 5" x 6.5"
Book: 1
(SB#1)
Details on the back:
Patched up log stable
March,
Note: the day is cut off, the paper was cut with scissors, best guess based on the remaining small part of the date is 5th
Title: Stroud Feed Mill
Location: Stroud, Ontario, Canada
Date: May, 2/ 1983
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 8" x 10"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
May 2/83
Stroud Feed Mill
Stroud Ontario
Vacant, and left to the elements.
Metal siding being torn off by high winds.
Title: Schomberg Feed Mill
Location: Schomberg, Ontario, Canada
Date: Nov 1, 1981
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 5" x 8"
Book: 1 (SB #1)
Details on the back:
Nov . 1 / 81
Schomberg Co-Op Feed Mill
Title: Shadi - Lawn Farms
Location: Atwood Elma - Blindline Rd, Ontario, Canada
Date: March. 2 1990
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper with PC with pencil and pen
Size: 5" x 8"
Book: 1 (SB #1)
Nothing on the back*
Note: This is on Sate Farm Insurance marked paper
Title: "Maynihan" Farm
Location: Wellington St. and 2nd Conc. (Bayview), Ontario, Canada
Date: 1976
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper with PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*
Title: The Barn Edwards Garden
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: Jun 17 - 1982
Medium: Pencil pen and pencil crayon on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Jun 17- 1982
The large barn is well used as a tourist attraction and has a snack bar
Note: The date is written with a dash out of character for John's work I wonder if it was written by someone else?
Title: West of Manilla
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: June 26 /83
Medium: Pencil ,pen and pencil crayon on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
June 26 / 83
Lovely farm lands West of Manilla Ont.
Title: Farm home .
18th Conc. King Twp.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: Nov 14 /84
Medium: Pencil pen on paper
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Nov 14/84
Home of S. Saru 18th Conc. King Twp.
Title: Talisman Farm
Location: Queensville, Ontario, Canada
Date: 1984
Medium: Pencil pen on paper PC
Size: 10" x 8"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*
Title: Conway Triple Farm
Location: 6th Conc. Stouffville , Ontario, Canada
Date: March 20. 1984
Medium: Pencil pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Conway Triple Farm
6th Conc. Stouffville Whitchurch
March 20. 1984
Title: Eramosa 4th Line. Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
Date: June 4/91
Medium: Pencil on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*
Title: Adelaide Hoodless Homestead (1857-1910),
Location: Blue Lake Rd. St. George Ontario, Canada
Date: March 6/1989
Medium: Pencil on paper PC with pencil
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Nothing on the back*
Title: Farm home of J Best
Location: Durham Ontario, Canada
Date: March. 21 1986
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Note: This drawing features unique blue pen highlights. Difficult to discern from the photograph*
Details on the back:
Mar. 21 /86
Farm home of J. Best
Durham #11 & 3rd Conc.
Title: Broccoli Hill.
Overlooking the Holland Marsh
Location: Bathurst St. and Morning Side Rd. , Holland Marsh, Ontario, Canada
Date: Aug 2, 1983
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 11" x 8"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Aug 2/83
Broccoli Hill
(Tatham C. Burns farm)
Bathurst St. and Morning Side Rd.
Title: Major Mackenzie Drive
and Woodbine Ave.
New Church in background
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: July 2/ 81
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper PC
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
July 2 1980
Note: 1980 or 1981 the last number in this date could be a 0 or a 1 hard to tell*
Title: Yew Tree Farm
Location: Coniston Cumbria England.
Date: June 6/85
Medium: Pencil on paper
Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Note: This is an interesting drawing, the note on the back indicates it was a drawing of a postcard. I can't be sure if Larke ever visited this location.
This drawing presents a unique opportunity to explore one of Larkes influences as an artist. If he made a further study of Bromleys work or merely had a chance encounter with his work on this post card as a one off experience I can't be sure. But since the work is copied from a post card I would deduce the latter rather than the former*
Details on the back:
June 6/85
Yew Tree Farm Caniston England
Copied from a post card by Kenneth A Bromley Bolton England.
John Larke
A note on the location:
Coniston is a village in the region of Furness, England. It is located in the southern part of the Lake District National Park, between Coniston Water and Coniston Old Man.
Having been within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire since 1182, Coniston was part of the administrative county of Lancashire between 1889 and 1974. Today Coniston forms part of Cumbria. The village is situated at the head of Coniston Water, the third longest lake in the Lake District.
​
Note on the Artist:
Kenneth A. Bromley (born 1921 in Bolton) was a British artist best known for his architectural sketches and watercolor landscapes of the UK. He studied fine art at Bolton Art College and served in the Royal Corps of Signals during World War II. During the war, he supported himself through painting and developed the first version of his "Perfect Paper Stretcher." After the war, he worked in commercial art in London before returning to Bolton around 1948.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Bromley focused on creating detailed architectural sketches for schools, churches, and universities. From the 1970s to 1980s, he produced collections of scenic British views through the Bromley Art Company. His work was published in portfolios such as Bath – Sketches by Kenneth A. Bromley. He also co-founded Ken Bromley Art Supplies Ltd in 1989, combining his passion for art with supplying materials to other artists.
Title: Farm home
Location: Conc. 11. W. Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada
Date: Aug 5/85
Medium: Pencil on paper Size: 11" x 8.5"
Book: 1
Details on the back:
Aug 5/85
Farm home Conc. 11. W, Gwillimbury Ont. Just west of 400 Hwy
Title: Old Farm Home
Location: Beeton, Ontario, Canada
Date: April 2/72
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper Size: 8.5" x 6"
Book: 1 (SB 2?)
Details on the back:
April 2 /72
Home of Mr. C Watson
Farm home of years ago
On 89 hwy East of Beeton Ont.
What memories must be hidden within these walls.
Title: No. Hwy - Line 14. W. Location: Gwillimbury, Ontario
Ontario, Canada
Date: May 21/1984
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper Size: 9" x 6"
Book: 1 (SB #4)
Details on the back:
May 21/84
A small busy barn No 11 hwy. Line 14
W.Gwillimbury
Title: "Storey Farm"
Location: Doon Rd. & 5th Conc. Location: East Gwillimbury,
Ontario, Canada
Date: May 3/1984
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper
Size: 9" x 6"
Book: 1 (SB #2)
Details on the back:
May 3 /84
"Storey Farm"
Doon Rd. & 5th Conc. East Gwillimbury Ontario
Title: Quiet Countryside
Location: No location
Date: 1977
Medium: Pencil and marker on paper
Size: 8" x 5"
Book: 1 (SB #1)
Details on the back:
1977
Title: At the Crossroads
Location: Mulmer
Date: March 18 /1984
Medium: Pencil and pen on paper PC with pencil crayon
Size: 8" x 10.5"
Book: 1
