Book Description

Excerpt from British Water-Colour Painting of to-Day, 1921 To those who are accustomed to visit the art galleries with a view to considering the work of contemporary artists the numerous exhibitions of modern water-colour painting offer an interesting study. So uneven in quality is the prolific out put in this fascinating medium that it is not surprising if, from first impressions, one is apt to form but a moderate opinion of the general standard of the exhibits. Yet if we examine more closely the work of certain of our present-day water-colourists, one is bound to admit that Great Britain still holds her own as the leader of water-colour painting. Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say that alongside many drawings of but little artistic value may often be found works showing undoubted ability, and worthy to rank with some of the best examples of what is generally considered the great period of British water-colour painting, the first half of the nineteenth century. This may sound a bold statement and one to which many lovers of the works of the older men will take exception but we are convinced that if the question is approached with an open mind it will be admitted that there is justification for the assertion. It must, however, be realized, in the first place, that all sincere art is the expression of an age, and this maxim is especially applicable to the productions of the earlier water colour men. Their art served its time and their works have been handed down to us as a precious heritage, esteemed alike by connoisseurs and artists. The best work of to-day, too, is essentially the expression of the period, and it is only fair that it should be judged as such. To confine criticism to comparison with the drawings of the old water-colourists shows, surely, a. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.