Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1821-1906)
John Ruskin wrote in 1882 that 'Brabazon is the only person since Turner at whose feet I can sit and worship and learn about colour'. He was both a friend and travelling companion to Ruskin whom he accompanied on sketching trips to Italy.
Brabazon spent three years studying in Rome, after he abandoned his training as a barrister and decided to pursue a career as an artist. His love of both the Italian cities and countryside provided him with continuous subject matter throughout his life. The magnetic draw of Venice and Rome was as powerful on Brabazon as it had been on generations of artists before him. Following the death of his father Brabazon was given lifelong financial independence and this enabled him to exploit the charms of such cities to the full.
Largely self-taught and experimental in technique, Brabazon learned to execute watercolours at extraordinary speed which had the critics comparing him to such masters of colour as Velasquez, Titian and Old Crome. His Italian subjects are no exception, demonstrating his ability at producing harmonious atmospheric watercolours with just a few strokes of the brush.
On his death in 1906. Hercules Brabazon Brabazon was universally praised by eritics and fellow artists alike prompting the Daily News obituary to call him 'one of the most gifted artists of our time.'
Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1821-1906)
Details
Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1821-1906)
La Riva degli Schiavoni
coloured chalks and watercolour heightened with bodycolour on grey paper
7 x 9½in. (17.8 x 23.7cm.)
La Riva degli Schiavoni
coloured chalks and watercolour heightened with bodycolour on grey paper
7 x 9½in. (17.8 x 23.7cm.)