Turner, Blake y Palmer: great watercolor painters

Watercolor is one of the most challenging artistic techniques, capable of extraordinary luminosity but often resistant to control. Luminous Paper: British Watercolors and Drawings, on view July 19-October 23, 2011 at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center, presents more than 25 works of the 1700s and 1800s by some of the greatest masters of the medium, many on view for the first time.

Featuring the work of some of the most famous British artists, including J.M.W. Turner, William Blake, and Samuel Palmer, this exhibition reveals their multifaceted innovations in the field of drawing and watercolor painting. From Turner’s use of his thumbprint to roughen the texture of wash in a whirling seascape, to the reflected and re-reflected light built in layers by John Sell Cotman, the medium of watercolor was transformed beyond recognition.

Among the recent acquisitions is Durham Cathedral and Castle (about 1800) by Thomas Girtin, a dramatic view of a medieval cathedral and castle set on a rocky outcrop above the water, amid the moving light of a bright, cloudy sky.

Date: from July 19 to October 23.
Hours: from Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm. Saturday from 10am to 9pm. Closed on Monday.
Location:  The Getty Center. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, California