Overview

Taking its lead from W.H. Hunt’s watercolour The Head Gardener, c. 1825, that is part of The Courtauld Gallery’s permanent collection, this focused display will be first to investigate Hunt’s depiction of rural figures in his work of the 1820s and 1830s. Consisting of twenty drawings borrowed from collections across the United Kingdom, William Henry Hunt: Country People will bring together watercolours depicting country people in their working or living environments, from farmer and gamekeeper to stonebreaker and gleaner. The representation of these country men, women and children, closely observed, raises questions about their status and way of life at a time of rapid agricultural and social change. These profound changes are also reflected in the literature of the period. William Henry Hunt was one of the most admired watercolourists of the 19th century. Better known as `Bird’s Nest Hunt’ for his intricate still lives of flowers, fruit and birds’ eggs, he exhibited prolifically at the Old Water Colour Society. His works were sought after by collectors, notably John Ruskin, a serious champion of his work.’ William Henry Hunt: Country People is the latest in a series of books accompanying critically acclaimed Courtauld displays, which showcase aspects of the gallery’s outstanding permanent collection.

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9781911300236

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Reviews

"★★★★ ""Beautifully idyllic"" --Londonist ""A delicate delight""--The Times ""An absorbing story ... Hunt isn't painting portraits of people, he's exposing their lives."" --Time Out ""In [Hunt's] vivid sketches, we meet gamekeepers, farmers, maltsters, millers, gardeners, kitchen maids, labourers - even a poacher. Hunt gives us a glimpse into their world.""-- (09/01/2017) ""The first exhibition to investigate William Henry Hunt's depiction of rural figures ... Hunt was a Londoner, born near Covent Garden, who brought a metropolitan eye to the land and the people who make their living from it."" --BLOUIN ARTINFO"

The first exhibition to investigate William Henry Hunt's depiction of rural figures ... Hunt was a Londoner, born near Covent Garden, who brought a metropolitan eye to the land and the people who make their living from it. --BLOUIN ARTINFO In [Hunt's] vivid sketches, we meet gamekeepers, farmers, maltsters, millers, gardeners, kitchen maids, labourers - even a poacher. Hunt gives us a glimpse into their world. -- (09/01/2017) An absorbing story ... Hunt isn't painting portraits of people, he's exposing their lives. --Time Out A delicate delight --The Times Beautifully idyllic --Londonist

In [Hunt's] vivid sketches, we meet gamekeepers, farmers, maltsters, millers, gardeners, kitchen maids, labourers - even a poacher. Hunt gives us a glimpse into their world. -- (09/01/2017) An absorbing story ... Hunt isn't painting portraits of people, he's exposing their lives. --Time Out The first exhibition to investigate William Henry Hunt's depiction of rural figures ... Hunt was a Londoner, born near Covent Garden, who brought a metropolitan eye to the land and the people who make their living from it. --BLOUIN ARTINFO A delicate delight --The Times â â â â Beautifully idyllic --Londonist

Author Information

Joanna Selbourne is a former curator at Courtauld Gallery. Barnaby Wright is deputy head and Daniel Katz Curator of Twentieth-Century Art at the Courtauld Gallery in London.

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