Places of the Mind: British Watercolour Landscapes 1850-1950

Delightful exhibition at the British Museum of landscape watercolours by British artists in the 100 years after the death of Turner.

This was the period in which Ruskin advised artists to “go to nature” and these artists took that to heart. There was a huge market for watercolours and big money in it. I loved the show for the glimpses it gave into the life of many artists I’d not heard of before. The commentaries on the pictures were detailed by interesting and very readable.

The exhibition was arranged in themes which gave you a good opportunity to compares styles and approaches over the century.

My highlights tended to come from the 20th century including a Nevinson of the redevelopment of Regent Street (OK for landscape read townscape too), a Keith Vaughan of conscientious objectors clearing ivy off a wall, a David Jones of Eric Gill’s house in Ditchling and a gorgeous Charles Rennie Macintosh of a harbour front with the buildings reflected in the water.

Most fascinating was a watercolour by Charles Ginner. I’m used to Ginner painting in very thick oils for was amazed by a flat picture by him. 

Closes on 27 August 2017.

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