The Discovery of Paris. Watercolours by Early Nineteenth-Century British Artists

In the early nineteenth century Paris was an irresistible attraction for thousands of British tourists, among whom were many painters. There was an unprecedented interest in views of the city, and artists responded to this excitement with an extraordinary range of works, from simple pencil views to the most elaborate watercolours. It is this remarkable contribution of the British to the iconography of Paris, and the fact that it was in the early nineteenth century that the French capital became the major destination for mass middle-class tourism that it has remained ever since, that justifies the title of this publication - The Discovery of Paris.

This catalogue will accompany an exciting exhibtion at the Wallace Collection of British watercolour views of Paris. Focusing on the period c. 1802-40, it will feature works by Turner, Girtin and Bonington, as well as other artists who are now perhaps less familiar, such as Thomas Shotter Boys, Francis Danby and Willam Callow. The reader will be introduced to about sixty watercolours, plus complimentary materials including prepatory drawings and associated prints. Featured works are from the British Museum, Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, and several private collections.