Graves Gallery - Turner & the Monro Masters

Today I was able to see the Turner and the Monro Masters exhibition  which focused on watercolours by JMW Turner, Thomas Girtin, Peter De Wint and John Sell Cotman.

Although the exhibition was quite small - only half a room, the selection of watercolours was great, with all of them working together and looking cohesive even though they were by a range of artists. All of them were traditional in that they focused on landscapes, architecture or scenes at sea. I love looking at exhibitions like this one as it allows you to focus on the beauty of the image as a whole, from the composition to the painting technique and detail and the skill of the artist, rather than searching for a message and perhaps being assaulted by concepts. In a modern world of constant images and messages, it really was quite calming to look at places and compositions that the artists considered worthy and beautiful enough to be captured in watercolour. What I really liked though was that several of them seemed to inhibit a loose, working style where you could still see the pencil marks, but they still looked refined and professional. I'd never seen any watercolours where the pencil marks could be seen and so it kind of reassured me that even working artists can leave the pencil lines in, while making a beautiful image.

Below are a few of my favourite works from the exhibition.

Watering Place, Peter De Wint

What was interesting about the piece above is the composition of the tree in the centre with the cows to the side. It was unusual as you're confronted with the tree, but it works really well.

Crowland Abbey, Peter De Wint

Fountains Abbey, 1799, Thomas Girtin

I love the arches in the painting above as they maintain their form and delicacy as well as their derelict grandeur and the shadow and light only helps to accentuate them. After trying to draw arches the other week I appreciate how difficult they are to get right.

Conway Castle, 1799, Thomas Girtin

Warwick Castle, Peter De Wint

Only about half finished this allowed you to see how the painting was built up, from the pencil drawing to more completed sections.

If there were any downsides to the exhibition it's that it all seems a bit cramped and small as it's confined to half of a room between Graves' modern art section and the Andy Warhol exhibition, so it also feels out of place. It really does feel like it was just crammed in and it took me only about 20 mins to look at all of the work. I think it would have been more at home in the traditional permanent section of the gallery, with works in a similar style and time period. This can be overlooked though simply due to the quality of the exhibition - it'd definitely recommend it.
  
Turner & the Monro Masters is running at the Graves Gallery in Sheffield from Friday 7 September 2012 - Saturday 13 April 2013.