British Watercolours 1760-1900
The Age of Splendour

Venue: NGV International, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Dates: 14 October 2011 - 19 February 2012
Cost: Free
Click on the images for a larger view

A vision splendid

On 14 October, the National Gallery of Victoria will open British Watercolours 1760–1900: The Age of Splendour, an outstanding exhibition showcasing works by Britain’s most celebrated eighteenth century artists including J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin and William Blake.

Also on display for the first time will be the most recent acquisition to the Prints & Drawings Collection, The Stepping Stones on the Wharfe, above Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire (1801) by celebrated artist, Thomas Girtin.  A masterpiece of the artist’s late Romantic style this work is an acquisition highlight of the NGV’s 150th anniversary year.

Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV said: “The NGV boasts one of the greatest collections of British watercolours from this period in the world. This exquisite collection, comprising over 200 works, is bursting with NGV hidden treasures.

“Only one artist pivotal to the development of the watercolour medium, Thomas Girtin, remained inadequately represented in this collection and we are delighted to unveil this major work in British Watercolours 1760–1900,” said Dr Vaughan.

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.

The NGV’s magnificent collection of British watercolours was acquired predominantly throughout the twentieth century, principally through the Felton Bequest, however a number of contemporary watercolours were acquired from Great Britain for the NGV collection before 1900.

Cathy Leahy, Senior Curator, Prints & Drawings, NGV said: “The ambition, technical innovation and sheer number of significant artists working in the medium of watercolour during this period have led to a popular understanding of watercolour as a peculiarly ‘British’ art form.

“The medium underwent significant changes and evolved from the delicate monochrome washes over pen outline, characterising eighteenth century topographical drawings to the saturated colours, fluid handling and bold articulation of form seen in the watercolours by artists of the Romantic generation,” said Ms Leahy.

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.

British Watercolours 1760–1900 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.

Dr Vaughan said: “Many of these works have not been displayed in over 50 years, making this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Visitors to this exhibition will marvel at the astonishing detail, beauty and radiance of these spectacular works.”

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.

Images: SAMUEL PALMER
The Golden City: Rome from the Janiculum 1873
watercolour and gouache with pencil, black chalk and gum arabic
51.4 x 71.0 cm (sheet)
Lister 668, Lister 668
Presented by members of the Varley Family, 1927

J. M. W. TURNER
The Red Rigi 1842
watercolour, wash and gouache with some scratching out
30.5 x 45.8 cm (sheet)
Wilton 1525, Wilton 1525
Felton Bequest, 1947