1800
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Cliffs on the North-East side of Point Lorenzo, Madeira is a 1800 watercolor by John Sell Cotman, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows rocky cliffs rising steeply from the ocean. The jagged rocks are painted in earthy browns and whites, with patches of green clinging to their sides. A few birds fly near the top, and two goats stand on a flat ledge below. The sky above is a mix of soft blues and yellows, with light clouds drifting across. The artist used loose, sketchy brushstrokes to suggest texture in the rocks and water. The cliffs look rough and dramatic, almost like they’re alive. The title tells us this is a real place—Madeira, an island off Europe. Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used nature to spark big emotions.
The watercolour titled *Cliffs on the North-East side of Point Lorenzo, Madeira* depicts coastal rock formations along the northeastern coast of Madeira. Painted by John Sell Cotman in 1800, the work captures the rugged terrain and dramatic cliffs of the region. The composition emphasizes verticality and texture, characteristic of Cotman’s approach to landscape.
Read the full account in the museum source.
John Sell Cotman (16 May 1782 – 24 July 1842) was an English marine and landscape painter, etcher, illustrator, and a leading member of the Norwich School of painters.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
