Artwork

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow, by John Martin, gouache, 1844
View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow, by John Martin, gouache, 1844

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow is a gouache drawing by the Romanticist artist John Martin. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription
Inscribed:lower left in watercolor: J. Martin 1844; by later hand, upper center verso in graphite: The River Wye, Near Chepstow / by John Martin 1789-1854 / Signed and dated 184 4. / Exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, 1845 No 707. / Inspected and authenticated by D. Kighle y Baxandall / of the Cardeff Art Gallery 17:6:1941. who expressed a / desire to purchase it. M Baxandall is now (1950) / Director of the Manchester Art Gallery

About this work

The painting is called View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow. It was made by John Martin in 1844. The artist used a mix of watercolor, gouache, and oil paint to create the scene, which is a notable fact about this work.

This combination of media allows for a range of effects and textures. You can learn more about this style by looking into the movement: Romanticism.

Overview

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow is a drawing created by John Martin in 1844. It is a representation of a landscape scene, executed in a mix of media on wove paper.

Technique & Style

The drawing combines watercolor, gouache, and possibly oil paint over graphite, with techniques such as scraping out and heightening with varnish and/or gum arabic. This blend of media achieves varied effects and textures, characteristic of Martin's detailed and expansive style.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a cityscape with small figures set against a dominant landscape, a more subdued subject compared to Martin's typical dramatic religious or apocalyptic themes.

Context

The drawing is associated with the Romanticism movement, known for its emphasis on dramatic and imaginative compositions, a style that Martin was known for, although critics like John Ruskin sometimes questioned his approach.

View from Drachenfels looking towards Bonne-Rhine
View from Drachenfels looking towards Bonne-Rhine, William James Müller

Artist & collection

Portrait of John Martin

Artist

John Martin

John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854) was an English Romanticist painter, engraver, and illustrator.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow?

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow was painted by John Martin in 1844.

Where can I see View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow?

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow?

View on the River Wye, Looking towards Chepstow is associated with Romanticism.