Artwork

The River, King Street, Norwich

The River, King Street, Norwich, by John Thirtle, watercolor, 1795
The River, King Street, Norwich, by John Thirtle, watercolor, 1795

The River, King Street, Norwich is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist John Thirtle. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The River, King Street, Norwich is a watercolour painting created by John Thirtle in 1795. It is a representative work of the Norwich School of painters, a group of artists known for their landscape paintings.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a serene riverside scene in Norwich, featuring a building on the right and trees in the background. A small boat is moored on the left side of the river, which dominates the foreground.

Technique & Style

Thirtle's use of watercolour creates a soft, dreamy effect, with gentle colours and subtle shading that convey a sense of depth and atmosphere. The painting's tranquil quality is characteristic of the Romanticism movement, which emphasized emotion and imagination.

Artist & collection

Portrait of John Thirtle

Artist

John Thirtle

John Thirtle (baptised 22 June 1777 – 30 September 1839) was an English watercolour artist and frame-maker.