Panorama

A small exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery of landscapes from the early 17th century to mid-19th century which used high imagined viewpoints and took on the long narrow format which suggest a 360 degree view.

This idea and shape seems to have particularly suited to the Romantic sublime ideas but were also often sued to convey ownership or civic pride.

I loved a picture by Francis Towne of the Forest of Radnor with the Black Mountains in the Distance from 1810 which had an almost abstract quality in its blocked composition of pale blues and greys.

Also lovely to see a view by Canaletto from Somerset House, ie from almost where I was standing including St Pauls. This matched nicely a view from Greenwich Hill by John Cozens which also included St Pauls in the far background.

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