Richard Parkes Bonington was one of the most promising artists of his generation. He died when he was 25 years old. He probably painted on location using a wet-in-wet technique. Painting on wet paint directly rather than building up layers over time enabled him to create the spontaneity of watercolor in oils. I have looked at this painting for a long time, I like the lightness and flow elements of this painting. You can somehow feel the sun shining through the clouds. The fact that there is a sailing boat lying on the sand gives it grounding which I find absolutely calming and energizing.
Richard Parkes, An Estuary in Northern France
National Gallery
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/richard-parkes-bonington-an-estuary-in-northern-france