Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- Joshua Cristall 1767 or 8–1847
- Medium
- Watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 88 × 154 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
- Reference
- T08468
Display caption
Joshua Cristall was a founder member of the Society of Painters in Watercolour, but was unusual in being primarily a figure painter. His exhibits at the Society in its early years were large elaborate compositions on a pastoral or arcadian theme with monumental figures. In later years he also produced watercolours featuring figures observed from the life - Hastings fishermen and Scottish peasant girls, for example. Pure landscape sketches by Cristall are rare. This one (inscribed 'J.C.') was formerly attributed to John Constable. Paul Oppé provided the correct attribution. Cristall may have learned to use washes with such confidence and freedom during the tour he made in Wales in 1803 with Cornelius Varley (no.84).
Gallery label, September 2004
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