Masters of Water-Colour Painting

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[Illustration: Cover]

MASTERS OF WATER-COLOUR PAINTING With Introduction by H. M. Cundall, I.S.O., F.S.A.

Edited By Geoffrey Holme London: The Studio, Ltd., 44 Leicester Square, W.C.2 1922-1923

CONTENTS Page

Introduction by H. M. Cundall, I.S.O., F.S.A. 1

ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOURS Plate

Bonington, Richard Parkes Near Jumieges xxiv

Cotman, John Sell Classical Scene xiii

Cox, David Boys Fishing xviii

Cozens, John Robert Lake Nemi x

Dayes, Edward Furness Abbey, Lancashire vii

De Wint, Peter St. Albans xvi

Farington, R.A., Joseph Scotch Landscape v

Fielding, A. V. Copley Lake Scene xvii

Girtin, Thomas Landscape xi

Glover, John View in North Wales xv

Harding, James Duffield Vico, Bay of Naples xx

Hearne, Thomas View of Gloucester iv

Holland, James A Shrine in Venice xxii

Hunt, William Henry Plucking the Fowl xxi

Malton, Thomas, Jun. Old Palace Yard, Westminster vi

Prout, Samuel Palazzo Contarini Fasan on the Grand Canal, Venice xix

Pyne, James Baker View in Italy xxiii

Rooker, A.R.A., Michael (Angelo) Village Scene iii

Rowlandson, Thomas Entrance to Vauxhall Gardens ix

Sandby, R.A., Paul Windsor Castle: View of the Round and Devil's Towers from the Black Rock i

Towne, Francis On the Dart ii

Turner, R.A., J. M. W. Lucerne: Moonlight xii

Varley, John Hackney Church xiv

Wheatley, R.A., Francis Preparing for Market viii

The Editor desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. A. E. Hutton, Mr. R. W. Lloyd, Mr. Victor Rienaecker, Mr. G. Bellingham Smith and Messrs. Thos. Agnew & Sons who have kindly lent their drawings for reproduction in this volume.

INTRODUCTION

The earliest form of painting was with colours ground in water. Egyptian artists three thousand years B.C. used this method, and various mediums, such as wax and mastic, were added as a fixative. It was what is now known as tempera painting. The Greeks acquired their knowledge of the art from the Egyptians, and later the Romans dispersed it throughout Europe. They probably introduced tempera painting into this country for decoration of the walls of their houses. The English monks visited the Continent and learnt the art of miniature painting for illuminating their manuscripts by the same process. Owing to opaque white being mixed with the colours the term of painting in body-colour came in use. Painting in this manner was employed by artists throughout Europe in making sketches for their oil paintings.

Two such drawings by Albrecht Durer, produced with great freedom in the early part of the sixteenth century, are in the British Museum. The Dutch masters also employed the same means. Holbein introduced the painting of miniature portraits into this country, for although the monks inserted figures in their illuminations, little attempt was made in producing likenesses. As early as the middle of the seventeenth century the term "water colours" came into use. In an inventory, in manuscript, of the personal estate of Charles I, which was sold by an Act of Parliament, numerous pictures are thus described.