Durham Cathedral and Castle
about 1800
Thomas Girtin captured the majestic Durham Cathedral and Castle perched dramatically on a rocky hill above the River Wear around 1800. As a pioneer of the Romantic movement, he used loose, atmospheric watercolor washes to give the ancient stone structures a sense of grandeur and timelessness. This view, looking across the river with its rushing weir in the foreground, became one of the most iconic images of the English landscape, influencing even his rival J.M.W. Turner. Girtin tragically died at just 27, making his bold, innovative watercolors even more remarkable for their brief but brilliant creation.
- Technique
- Watercolor
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