Kamis, 30 Mei 2013

Famous Landscape Painters And Their Genre

By Rena Hudson


The topic of art, when introduced into a conversation, is often met by a blank look. Many claim that it is all a bit beyond them, and that they can not see what the artist is trying to convey, no matter how hard they try. Any work from one of the famous landscape painters is a different matter, as people can identify with it.

At one time this subject matter was not very popular. It failed to capture the imagination, or the interest, of the wealthy, who were the main patrons of the art world. They much preferred the grander religious scenes, or those depicting events discussed in mythology, and quite a number were happy to sit and pose while their portraits were painted.

Landscape painting really began to take hold because of European gentry. Many wanted an artist to produce a painting of their country estate, which they would proudly display in their town house. Initially these paintings were bereft of people, apart from maybe to give an idea as to scale. All too often the landscape was depicted purely as background to stately houses and buildings.

Because this genre was largely uncharted territory, the artist had to find out for themselves what worked and what didn't. The play of light on objects had to be experimented with, as had the new vibrant colors. It all worked out well, as people liked what they saw, and so the market grew.

At that time the main artists experimenting in this new field were either Dutch or Flemish. As a point of interest the word landscape is even based on the Dutch word of landschap. They soon noticed that smaller paintings attracted a wider market.

As a lot of these paintings were so much smaller than the previous religious masterpieces, they were available in greater numbers. Maybe that would account for why so many survive to this day. The genre might have started in mainland Europe, but it was the English painters of the early nineteenth century who really made this genre their own.

The development of new materials meant that the artist could venture out into the countryside and study things. Previously they were confined to their sketch books and their studios. Now they could set up and paint whatever it was that they saw before them.

Many also cite the new developments in photography as being important. Most artists adhered to the idea of realism, whatever was before them was reproduced on their canvas. Although some chose to see photography as a chance experiment and push boundaries, as a consequence some different depictions of landscapes came to be.

There are always some names which will crop up when this subject matter is talked about. Most commonly, at least one from either Constable, Gainsborough or Turner will be mentioned. Which is hardly surprising as their works are some of the most recognizable within this category.

Thanks largely to these artists the hobby of painting was deemed suitable for young European ladies and gentlemen. When they migrated to the Americas they took this pastime with them. Which gave rise to some of America's most famous landscape painters.




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