The Great Age of British Watercolours 1750-1880

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and insightful -- highly recommend & great value.
Review: I am a watercolour enthusiast and bought the paperback version of this book after borrowing the hardcover version from the library. Academic Andrew Wilton is considered by many to be the world authority on J.M.W. Turner (my favourite painter) -- he was even mentioned fleetingly on the "Antiques Roadshow" TV show last week! This large, thick book is packed full of interesting watercolors. The print quality and colour is good, and Andrew's text puts each artist and picture in context -- it has certainly enhanced my appreciation for this art form. Several artists now stick out in my mind: Turner (of course), Francis Towne -- what a unique and distinct style, John Sell Cotman -- with wonderful layered colours, the various Cozens -- pioneers of the form, Bonnington (it was good to see some of his atmospheric picture in real life at Bowood), John Frederick Lewis (extrodinarily life-like lighting and detail of complex, exotic people and scenes -- surely in guache not transparent watercolour?), Paul Sandy (at Winsor), Peter de Wint, the famous critic, fashion guru, academic and Turner-fan John Ruskin (an accomplished painter in his own right it seems) and Boyce. This a great book -- probably the standard reference for this period and art form.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and insightful -- highly recommend & great value.
Review: I am a watercolour enthusiast and bought the paperback version of this book after borrowing the hardcover version from the library. Academic Andrew Wilton is considered by many to be the world authority on J.M.W. Turner (my favourite painter) -- he was even mentioned fleetingly on the "Antiques Roadshow" TV show last week! This large, thick book is packed full of interesting watercolors. The print quality and colour is good, and Andrew's text puts each artist and picture in context -- it has certainly enhanced my appreciation for this art form. Several artists now stick out in my mind: Turner (of course), Francis Towne -- what a unique and distinct style, John Sell Cotman -- with wonderful layered colours, the various Cozens -- pioneers of the form, Bonnington (it was good to see some of his atmospheric picture in real life at Bowood), John Frederick Lewis (extrodinarily life-like lighting and detail of complex, exotic people and scenes -- surely in guache not transparent watercolour?), Paul Sandy (at Winsor), Peter de Wint, the famous critic, fashion guru, academic and Turner-fan John Ruskin (an accomplished painter in his own right it seems) and Boyce. This a great book -- probably the standard reference for this period and art form.

Rating:
Summary: not that pleasing to look at
Review: Or rather 3 1/2 stars. I agree with the review below, in that this is a handsome book with tons of lovely works, and probably will become a standard reference compilation if it isn't already. I must say however that I had a couple of disappointments. First, a depressingly large portion (though certainly not most) of the works are fairly hum-drum looking British landscapes, in my eyes--but then again I'm no connoisseur. More than that, the quality of the reproduction is not obviously all that great, and in any case the paper it's printed on--while I'm sure it's expensive stuff--has the optical quality of cheap posterboard. It's distinctly off-white, almost beige, and as matte as possible. To my eyes, this affects the impressions of light and, I can't help but feel, also the colors in the images. As I pore through this book I feel as if I'm handling a dusty object. Maybe it's just me, maybe I just happen to like my watercolor reproductions on crisp white--even glossy (as e.g. in some watercolor magazines). Anyway, be aware of this before you buy it.

Rating:
Summary: not that pleasing to look at
Review: Or rather 3 1/2 stars. I agree with the review below, in that this is a handsome book with tons of lovely works, and probably will become a standard reference compilation if it isn't already. I must say however that I had a couple of disappointments. First, a depressingly large portion (though certainly not most) of the works are fairly hum-drum looking British landscapes, in my eyes--but then again I'm no connoisseur. More than that, the quality of the reproduction is not obviously all that great, and in any case the paper it's printed on--while I'm sure it's expensive stuff--has the optical quality of cheap posterboard. It's distinctly off-white, almost beige, and as matte as possible. To my eyes, this affects the impressions of light and, I can't help but feel, also the colors in the images. As I pore through this book I feel as if I'm handling a dusty object. Maybe it's just me, maybe I just happen to like my watercolor reproductions on crisp white--even glossy (as e.g. in some watercolor magazines). Anyway, be aware of this before you buy it.