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Barking Timber in Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire

Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts | CC0 1.0

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Date

1818 (?)

Artist

Joshua Cristall (c. 1768-1847)

Collection

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Image Link

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/421660

Description

A significant watercolorist in his lifetime, Cristall was largely forgotten after his death, only rediscovered in 1950 by Graham Reynolds who declared that Cristall’s watercolors provided the basis for Cotman’s first and greatest style and even anticipated Cezanne’s innovations. The artist's mature work is distinct among his contemporaries for focusing on the human figure, and this drawing demonstrates his abiding interest in themes of rural work. He likely encountered these bark workers in Witchwood Forest, Oxfordshire and, although certainly aware of precedents by Thomas Gainnsborough and George Morland, Cristall adds a distinct quality of classical nobility. The artist's compositions often focus on a comely young woman, but avoid sentimentality and a sense of narrative, leaving the subjects detached while engaged in commonplace activity. Medium: graphite, pen and gray ink, and watercolour with gum arabic and with scratching out.

Image Licence

CC0 1.0

Image Credit

Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts

Location

Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire, England

Country

Tags

Agriculture
People
Trees

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Industries & Professions

Glossary
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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform