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POSTED: 29 SEPTEMBER 2011

British Watercolours 1760–1900: The Age of Splendour*

On 14 October, the National Gallery of Victoria will open British Watercolours 1760–1900: The Age of Splendour, an outstanding exhibition showcasing works by Britain’s most celebrated eighteenth century artists including J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin and William Blake.

The NGV is also delighted to announce that on display for the first time will be the most recent acquisition to the Prints & Drawings Collection, The Stepping Stones on the Wharfe, above Bolten Abbey, Yorkshire (1801) by celebrated artist, Thomas Girtin.  A masterpiece of the artist’s late Romantic style this work is an acquisition highlight of the NGV’s 150th anniversary year.

Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV said: “The NGV boasts one of the greatest collections of British watercolours from this period in the world. This exquisite collection, comprising over 200 works, is bursting with NGV hidden treasures.”

British Watercolours 1760–1900 traces all of these developments and begins with a group of late eighteenth century watercolours by both amateurs and major artists. Also on display will be a selection of ‘exhibition watercolours’ from the latter part of the nineteenth century, including a work by Edward Robert Hughes who was associated with the Pre-Raphaelites.

Dr Vaughan said: “Many of these works have not been displayed in over 50 years, making this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Visitors to this exhibition will marvel at the astonishing detail, beauty and radiance of these spectacular works.”

British Watercolours 1760–1900 will showcase over 70 works by artists including Paul Sandby, John Robert Cozens, J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin, John Sell Cotman, David Cox, Peter de Wint, William Blake, Richard Parkes Bonington, Samuel Palmer, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Edward Burne-Jones amongst others.

British Watercolours 1760–1900 will be on show at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, from 14 October to 19 February.

*Reproduced from media release issued by the National Gallery of Victoria.

Samuel Palmer, English 1805–1881, The Golden City: Rome from the Janiculum 1873,watercolour and gouache with pencil, black chalk and gum Arabic, 51.4 x 71.0 cm , National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Presented by members of the Varley Family, 1927