The Norwich School of Painting
The early part of the nineteenth century saw many new developments, from the Norwich hotel and restaurant industries, to the development of a regional school of painting and the arts. What is now known scholarly as the Norwich School of Painting, was derived from the artists who had been influenced and inspired not only by the talents of each other, but by the landscapes and the countryside of Norwich and Norfolk. The two men who are known as the ‘founding father’ of this movement are Richard Ladbroke and John Crome.
These two had met as precocious teenagers on apprenticeship with older artists in the city, and continued to remain friends into the time when they both became established painters in their own right. The group was officially formed in 1803, and at that time was a combination of professional, working artists and amateurs and hobbyists. They held weekly meetings to discuss the aspects of the state of painting at the time, and to toss ideas back and forth about ways in which to progress the art world, to move it forward.
They were seeking perfection in their own work, while figuring out ways of schooling the public towards a great understanding and appreciation for the work of artists. This was an ethical group as well as a financial group, constantly discussing ways in which they may be able to live off of their art, instead of wasting precious time doing things that took away from it. The first meeting was held close to Castle Meadow, on Little Cockey Lane.
Soon they were planning open drawing and sketching sessions. They also arranged their own exhibitions and art openings. John Sell Cotman was a prominent member of the group beginning upon his return to Norwich in 1807. It has been said that his works in watercolor are of the most pure and perfect examples of watercolors ever produced throughout all of Europe.
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