Watercolour 57

Curragh Glass (Green Marsh)

Date made: 1884-1933

Artist: Knox, Archibald

Description: A dramatic and atmospheric watercolour landscape by Archibald Knox (1864-1933) depicting gathering storm clouds above a flat water-logged plain. The painting appears to be an attempt to capture the broad panoramic views of the Island's landscape with the broad expanse of sky above the curragh (wetlands). Unlike most of his watercolour sketches which are untitled and unidentified views of the Manx landscape, Knox both signed and identified this as the 'Curragh Glass' (Curragh being Manx for 'marsh/ wetland', a common Manx place-name element and Glass being Manx for 'green'). Knox's watercolour sketches can be seen as exercises in capturing the light and a single moment in time. The artist is said to have painted his watercolour scenes in a few hours or less, but that he would also sit for hours waiting for the exact light and cloud formations that he wanted to paint.

Measurements: artwork: 43 cm x 56.5 cm

Materials: watercolour on paper

Photograph and description courtesy of Manx National Heritage via the link at imuseum.im.