Thomas Girtin (1775 - November 9, 1802), Englishpainter and etcher, was the son of a well-to-do cordage maker in Southwark, London. His father died while Thomas was a child, and his widow married Mr. Vaughan, a pattern-draughtsman. Girtin learnt drawing as a boy, and was apprenticed to Edward Doyes (1763-1804), the mezzotint engraver, and he soon made J. M. W. Turners acquaintance. His architectural and topographical sketches and drawings soon established his reputation, his use of watercolour for landscapes being such as to give him the credit of having created modern water-color painting, as opposed to mere tinting. His etchings also were characteristic of his artistic genius. His early death from consumption led indeed to Turner saying , "had Tom Girtin lived I should have starved." From 1794 to his death he was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy; and some fine examples of his work have been bequeathed by private owners to the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.
ThomasGirtin (18 February 1775 - 9 November 1802), was an English painter and etcher, who played a key role in establishing watercolour as a reputable art form.
Girtin learnt drawing as a boy, and was apprenticed to Edward Dayes (1763-1804), a topographical watercolourist.
Girtin's early landscapes are akin to 18th-century topographical sketches, but in later years he developed a bolder, more spacious, Romantic style, which had a lasting influence on English painting.
ThomasGirtin (1775 - November 9, 1802), English painter and etcher, was the son of a well-to-do cordage maker in Southwark, London.
Girtin learnt drawing as a boy, and was apprenticed to Edward Doyes (1763-1804), the mezzotint engraver, and he soon made J.
His early death from consumption led indeed to Turner saying, "had Tom Girtin lived I should have starved." From 1794 to his death he was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy; and some fine examples of his work have been bequeathed by private owners to the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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