- Artist
- William Dyce 1806–1864
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 635 × 889 mm
frame: 950 × 1204 × 110 mm - Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased 1894
- Reference
- N01407
Online caption
Pegwell Bay was one of the English seaside resorts that became popular as railways began to connect cities and coasts. William Dyce’s picture recalls a visit with his family on a cold October day. The erosion of the chalk cliffs had exposed fossils, which were beginning to be understood as evidence of the Earth’s history. The trail of Donati’s comet in the sky puts human life into perspective in time and space. The art critic John Ruskin admired his attention to detail, claiming that he ranked alongside the Pre-Raphaelite circle in his attention to detail.
Film and audio
Explore
- architecture(30,960)
-
- townscapes / man-made features(21,603)
-
- breakwater(52)
- emotions and human qualities(5,345)
- recreational activities(2,836)
-
- beachcombing(1)
- walking(144)
- clothing and personal items(5,879)
-
- shawl(90)
- spade(4)
- basket(484)
- actions: postures and motions(9,111)
-
- bending forward(353)
- woman(9,110)
- boy(1,153)
- group(4,227)
- Dyce family(1)
- UK counties(19,585)
-
- Kent(1,084)
- England(19,202)
- England, South East(5,940)
- England, Southern(8,982)
- Pegwell Bay(3)
- education, science and learning(1,416)
-
- geology(33)
- arts and entertainment(7,210)
-
- artist, painter(2,545)