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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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watercolour
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The form of painting in which the British have made the most distinctive contribution. Used only occasionally by artists in previous centuries (most notably by Dürer), watercolour proved ideally suited to the 18C British passion for topographical views – at first solemnly accurate, and then with an ever-increasing dash of the *picturesque. Paul *Sandby was the earliest master in this field. His relatively straightforward approach was followed by more impressionistic and romantic styles from the brushes of John Robert Cozens (1752–97), Thomas Girtin (1775–1802), Richard Parkes Bonington (1802–28), David Cox (1783–1859), Peter de Wint (1784–1849) and above all *Turner.
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Meanwhile Francis Towne (1740–1816) and John Sell Cotman (1782–1842) had evolved a method of suggesting landscape by almost abstract blocks of colour wash; and *Rowlandson, *Blake and *Palmer were each using watercolour in a distinctive manner suited to their differing subjects. Since the late 18C watercolour pigments had been available in small ready-made blocks, and equipment so easily portable proved ideal for the growing fashion of sketching out of doors. By the Victorian period every well-brought-up young lady, including the queen herself, was a keen and often accomplished watercolourist.
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