Thomas Girtin - Royal Academy

Thomas Girtin,  (1775-1802), English watercolourist, whose professional and artistic gave birth to the individual English Romantic manner in watercolour. Turner and Girtin meet at Thomas Maltons's home where they were both copying and colouring from the vast Alexander Cozen collection in Malton's possession. This was the way of learning to paint from the old masters. The two young men aged 14 became best friends, and were soon to travel around England together sketching and painting. Both artist developing into what was to be known as Romantic Art, They convey a unique sense of the extent and scale of the English countryside. Their naturalistic style and sympathy to mood prepared the way for the full-scale Romanticism in art.

Etching by Thomas Girtin 'Windsor Castle'

Thomas Girtin: Genius in the North of England (no longer current)

(Feature in Yorkshire Arts)

The second exhibition to mark the annual 're-opening' of Harewood House where, as artists on the make, Thomas Girtin and JMW Turner could be found along with their sketchbooks 200 years ago. The Earl at the time actually preferred Girtin's vigorous and, in many ways, subversive style and - of course - it was Turner who made the famous remark after Girtin's premature death from asthma: "If Tom had lived, I should have starved". The Tate is rumored to be contemplating reconstructing Girtin's commercially unsuccessful panorama of London to mark the bicentenary of his death in 2002. In the meantime this is the first major Girtin exhibition since 1975 and features several key works, including (all the way from Yale) the best preserved of all his watercolours:

The Abbey Mill. Harewood House: (0113) 288 6331

Thomas Girtin, Durham Cathedral, watercolour 37.5 x 49.5 cm

Royal Academy of Arts, London, Great Britain's principal art organization, established for the purpose of improving and encouraging painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was founded in 1768 by George III in response to a memorial presented by 22 artists, among them the British architect Sir William Chambers and the American painter Benjamin West. Sir Joshua Reynolds was its first president. Turner was acting President for a time. The number of Royal Academicians is usually 80. The first permanent rooms of the Royal Academy were in the royal palace, Old Somerset House, in 1771. The society moved into New Somerset House in 1780 and then to the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, in 1837. In 1869 the society moved to its current location in Burlington House, Piccadilly.

Over a 1000 works of art are shown at the annual Summer Exhibition, at which members may exhibit six works and nonmembers may exhibit three. Loan exhibitions are mounted by the academy every year, and other exhibitions also take place under its patronage. The permanent collection of the academy contains many valuable works of art, including the Taddei Tondo by Michelangelo, as well as the diploma works of nearly all the Royal Academicians. The art schools of the academy are open to postgraduate students. The academy, which is under the direct patronage of the British monarch, is self-supporting, receiving the bulk of its funds from loan exhibitions. They has just had a fabulous exhibition on Van Dyck 

The Genius of Rome. Royal Academy, London UK, 20 Feb 02 - 16 Apr 01