On the Medway
early 1850s
David Cox was painting loose, atmospheric scenes like this one on the River Medway in the early 1850s, decades before the French Impressionists made it cool! A massive ship, decked out in flags, sits heavy in the water on the right, while tiny figures in rowboats battle the choppy waves in the foreground. The real star here is that huge, dramatic sky, filled with sweeping clouds that take up most of the view. Cox’s quick, watery brushstrokes perfectly capture the blustery English weather, making you feel the sea breeze just by looking at it.
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