"A Noble Art

In this exploration of a wide cross-section of lesser-known British artists and amateurs, ranging in date from Prince Rupert to the Prince Regent, over 200 mostly unpublished works from the British Museum's collections are described and illustrated.

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The words "amateur artist" conjure up a picture of Victorian ladies and gentlemen sketching in watercolours out of doors, and of portfolios and sketchbooks filled with charmingly naive landscapes and flowers gathering dust in attics. This text sets out to challenge this image. Far from being a Victorian phenomenon, drawing and limning (painting in miniature) were among the polite accomplishments of courtiers and virtuosi of the 17th century Stuart court. In the 18th century royal princesses, ladies at court and their circle of friends made copies of paintings, miniatures and pastel portraits, and worked flowers in needlework, watercolour and cut-paper. Grand tourists of both sexes interpreted the landscape and people of Europe through eyes trained by drawing masters such as J.R. Cozens and John "Warwick" Smith. Over 200 works from the British Museum's collections are described and illustrated in this study of a neglected aspect of British art history.