A Waterfall

Sir Edwin Landseer (1802-73)

Source: “Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” (1875): 227

“Lent by John Fowler, Esq., C.E.”

See Art-Journal commentary below.

Formatting and text by George P. Landow.

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Commentary in the Art-Journal

We have no definite clue to the scene of the ‘Waterfall,’ a highly-finished sketch in oil-colours, rather small in size: the materials of the composition are most picturesquely arranged, and are brought together with judgment, and a thorough knowledge of what is required in the way of light and shade and colour to produce effect, while giving to each part of the subject its own proper place. Here, as in most of his landscapes, Landseer clothes nature with more of brown than of green in her dress; and this causes them to look heavy, and to lose any transparency they would probably have under different treatment. It is singular that in his pictures where the landscape forms only a kind of background to figures and animals, we find he generally adopted both a lighter and brighter scale of colouring. [226-27]

Bibliography

“Studies and Sketches by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.” Art-Journal (1875): 225-28. Hathi Trust version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 23 March 2014

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Last modified 25 March 2014