David Cox: Impressionist Influencer

Some of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery’s famous collection of Pre-Raphaelite art is on tour. Over 200 works have travelled to America for ‘Victorian Radicals’, an exhibition touring the States from October 2018. What this means is that the museum has put together a new display, showcasing paintings by Birmingham-born landscape artist David Cox (1783–1859). If you haven’t heard of David Cox, here’s an introduction to this important artist, whose work can be understood as a precursor to Impressionism. 

Cox, who was born in Digbeth, spent his early art career by painting landscape scenery for the theatre. However, by the early 19th century he had begun to take watercolour lessons with John Varley (a close friend of William Blake). Mastering the medium, he made several watercolour sketching tours around the UK, including to Derbyshire, Devon, Wales and Yorkshire to paint the local landscape. From 1805 his works were exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy, and he became well-known for his atmospheric watercolour depictions of the British countryside and coast.  Read More...