British Watercolours in the Victoria and Albert Museum : An Illustrated Summary Catalogue of the National Collection

Sotheby Parke Bernet, London, [first] edition, 1980. Cloth, 4to, 29 cm,. xxi, 455 pp, [16] pp of plates. From the blurb: "British painters have always excelled in the art of watercolour; indeed, the tradition in this field is second to none in Europe. It is the medium which above all has recorded exactly the colours and textures of the British landscape. The National Collection of Watercolours, housed in the Department of Paintings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, embraces the British achievement in this field from the mid-seventeenth century to the present day. Both works by little known and unrecorded artists and examples by every major British watercolourist combine to make this national collection truly comprehensive. The purpose of this book is two-fold: to present a thorough catalogue listing and give basic information on over 5,600 works by some 1,600 artiste, and also to serve as a visual dictionary of the British watercolour tradition. Each artist is discussed in a brief biographical note, with many minor artists documented for the first time. At least one work by each artist is illustrated, several in the case of those whose style or subject matter changed most markedly during the course of their career. This work will be an essential and invaluable reference source for collectors and students alike. Very Good in Very Good dustwrapper.