The Quarry, by George John Pinwell (1842-1875). 1869. Watercolour and gouache over graphite on paper; 7 x 9 15/16 inches (17.7 x 25.3 cm). Collection of the National Gallery of Canada, accession no. 46558. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
This watercolour shows two male workmen returning from their work at the quarry and walking along a road. One holds an implement, likely a pickaxe, over his left shoulder. To their right are two women, one of which holds a baby in her arms. The other looks down at the small boy who walks beside her. The background largely consists of a rocky hill, although a forest and sky are visible to the upper left. Despite only being a loosely-handled sketch the colour is quite beautiful and totally characteristic of Pinwell's work. Edward Dalziel of the Dalziel Brothers initially owned this work. The Dalziel Brothers firm of Victorian wood engravers and publishers did much to make Pinwell's early reputation as an illustrator. They had a high regard both for Pinwell and his work as noted in their recollections of him: "he was 'one of the best' – aye, of the very best – of that group of young men with whom he was associated; for he possessed some of the finest and highest qualities in a supreme degree; his sense of beauty, his fine colour, his grace of design, his poetic art, being equalled only by his force of character. In much of his work there is a tinge of sadness; but as a rule, and in his water colours particularly, beauty dominates everything" (214). Landscape was not Pinwell's primary concern, as it was for his good friend J. W. North, but Paul Goldman has referred to him as undoubtedly "the poet of the figure in everyday dress" (119).
Although the level of finish of this watercolour study is not high enough for it to have been considered as an exhibition picture for the summer exhibition of the Old Water-Colour Society it was shown at the Winter exhibition that opened on November 29, 1869, no. 34. The winter exhibitions were officially designated for sketches and studies. The Quarry was later shown at the Pinwell memorial exhibition held at Deschamps' Gallery, London, in 1876, no. 60. It is unknown whether Pinwell ever carried the composition further, even though the Christie's catalogue for 15 October 1974 says it is "a study for the picture painted in 1869-70" (17). There is no record, however, of such a finished painting ever being exhibited during Pinwell's lifetime or after.
At Deschamps' Gallery in 1876 this watercolour, as well as an Indian ink drawing entitled The Quarry, were both exhibited but it is uncertain if the latter was a study for the watercolour. When this watercolour was first exhibited in 1869/70 it was an important time in Pinwell's career because in 1870 he was elected a full member of the Old Water-Colour Society. The critic of The Era, in reviewing The Old-Water-Colour winter exhibition in 1869, commented: "No. 34, The Quarry, and no. 356, The Last Load, both by Mr. Pinwell, who is still steadily improving, are the gems of the Second Screen. This last picture is suggestive of Mr. Walker's style and tone" (5). F. G. Stephens writing in The Athenaeum praised the colour of this sketch: "The Quarry (348), although but "a sketch for a picture," is, with all its incompleteness, a work of art in rendering a strong glow of light and fine color" (742). George Williamson noted Pinwell's particular abilities as a colourist as can be seen in this work: "The most marked feature of his work is perhaps his love of tiny brilliant touches of crude vivid colour, which he used with such dexterity and which gave a jewel-like effect to the surface of the picture, and lit it up in a marvellous way. By means of these touches he produced a precious glow of rich colouring that was the expression of his passion" (60).
Bibliography
Dalziel, George and Dalziel, Edward. The Brothers Dalziel. A Record of Fifty Years' Work in Conjunction with Many of the Most Distinguished Artists of the Period 1840-90, London: Methuen, 1901.
Esposito, Donato: Frederick Walker and the Idyllists. London: Lund Humphries, 2017, 71.
Goldman, Paul. Victorian Illustration. Aldershot, Hants: Scolar Press, 1996.
"The Society of Painters in Watercolour." The Era (5 December 1869): 5.
Stephens, Frederic George. "Fine Arts. Winter Exhibition of The Society of Painters in Water-Colours." The Athenaeum No. 2197 (December 4, 1869): 742-43.
"Victorian Drawings and Watercolours." London: Christie's (October 15, 1974): lot 81, 17.
Williamson, George C. George J. Pinwell and His Works. London: George Bell & Sons, 1900, 60, 80 & 87.
Created 14 May 2023