Watercolor on medium, moderately textured, cream laid paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 11 1/4 x 19 1/2 inches (28.6 x 49.5 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1986.29.566
Gallery Label:
John Sell Cotman, one of the rising stars of watercolor painting in the first years of the nineteenth century, was a follower of Girtin, whose influence is evident in this thoroughly Girtinean essay in sublime topography. The scene is the beach at Aberystwyth in Wales, dominated by the brooding, ruined castle with two small boats attempting to land through a rough sea. It was on the strength of works like this that in 1802 the young Cotman succeeded Girtin as leader of "The Brothers," the small group of watercolorists who met regularly to illustrate epic themes. Gallery label for Great British Watercolors from the Paul Mellon Collection at the Yale Center for British Art (Yale Center for British Art, 2008-06-09 - 2008-08-17)