Who painted Three Women?

Three Women was painted by David Cox in 1844.

Where can I see Three Women?

Three Women is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Three Women?

Three Women is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Three Women

David Cox , 1844

Three Women is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist David Cox. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Three Women is a watercolour painting by David Cox the Elder, featuring three females in traditional attire, captured in a serene, everyday pose.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a quiet, intimate moment: one woman sits relaxed on a stool, while two others stand behind, their backs turned, possibly engaged in conversation or waiting. The scene emphasizes ordinary life over grandeur.

Technique & Style

Characterized by soft, muted colours and loose, quick brushstrokes, the work exhibits a sketchy quality, suggesting a rapid capture of a fleeting moment. This approach imparts a sense of immediacy and spontaneity.

History & Provenance

A reverse sketch, dated August 31, 1844, depicts trees and figure studies, inscribed 'Bolton Woods'. This indicates the painting's origin and the artist's on-location working method.

Artist & collection

Artist

David Cox

David Cox (29 April 1783 – 7 June 1859) was an English landscape painter, one of the most important members of the Birmingham School of landscape artists and an early precursor of Impressionism.