British Watercolours 1760–1900: The Age of Splendour at National Gallery of Victoria on artrepublic.com
Exhibition running from Oct 14 2011
until Feb 19 2012
British Watercolours 1760–1900: The Age of Splendour is an outstanding exhibition showcasing works by Britain’s most celebrated eighteenth century artists including J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin and William Blake. From the late eighteenth century, watercolour became pivotal to the changing approaches to the depiction of landscape and evolved from the topographical draughtsman’s precise recording of the observed world to the expression of the artist’s personal response to nature. This shift in emphasis transformed the medium into a powerful and expressive art form used by some of the Romantic and Victorian era’s greatest artists. British Watercolours 1760–1900 will showcase over 70 works by artists including Paul Sandby, John Robert Cozens, J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin, John Sell Cotman, David Cox, Peter de Wint, William Blake, Richard Parkes Bonington, Samuel Palmer, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Edward Burne-Jones amongst others. The establishment of professional societies for the promotion of watercolours from the early nineteenth century contributed to the development of the ‘exhibition watercolour’ which competed with oil paintings in terms of size, brilliance of colour and effect, and range of subject matter. The complexity of technique and density of colour emulated the look and dramatic power of oil paintings. Artists Turner and Girtin were leading practitioners in the medium, both introducing new technical qualities which influenced a generation of painters. The NGV is fortunate to represent the towering achievement of Turner in the watercolour medium with three works including the masterpiece Red Rigi (1842), a highlight of the exhibition. The exhibition traces all of these developments and begins with a group of late eighteenth century watercolours by both amateurs and major artists. Also on display will be a selection of ‘exhibition watercolours’ from the latter part of the nineteenth century, including a work by Edward Robert Hughes who was associated with the Pre-Raphaelites. OPENING HOURS: Wed – Mon 10.00 – 17.00 Image Credits: John William NORTH English 1842–1924 The little copse on the hill: A dead rabbit 1891 watercolour, gouache, gum arabic and scratching out 39.0 x 57.0 cm Purchased, 1892 National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Samuel PALMER English 1805–81 The Golden City: Rome from the Janiculum 1873 watercolour and gouache with traces of pencil, black chalk and gum Arabic 51.4 x 71.0 cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Presented by members of the Varley family, 1927 Thomas GIRTIN English 1775–1802 The stepping stones on the Wharfe, above Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire 1801 watercolour over traces of pencil with touches of gouache 33.0 x 52.3 cm National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased NGV Foundation, with the assistance of an anonymous donor and Margaret Stones AM MBE, 2011  |
