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The painter and draughtsman Copley Anthony Vandyke Fielding (1787-1855) is considered an icon of watercolour painting. Copley Fielding was fascinated by the art of painting from childhood on. No wonder, since his father Nathan Theodore Fielding was a busy portrait painter in West Yorkshire. The family of artists produced five sons, including Theodore Henry Adolphus, Thales and Newton Smith Fielding and Antony Vandyke Copley, who all followed in their father's footsteps and became painters. Alongside his older brother Nathan Theodore, who had made a name for himself as an engraver, painter and author, Antony Vandyke Copley became world famous as a protagonist of British watercolour painting.
In 1804, in addition to Copley Fielding, numerous renowned British artists such as John and Cornelius Varley, Robert Hills, Francis Nicholson, Nicholas Pocock, Samuel Shelley and William Henry Pyne as well as William Sawrey Gilpin founded the Society of Painters in Water Colours for the simple reason that they were simply not appreciated enough by the British Royal Academy of Arts. Exhibitions in the academy rooms at London's Burlington House were largely devoted to contemporary oil paintings - watercolour paintings were probably not given the space they deserved. Copley Anthony Vandyke Fielding was president of the association representing the interests of all British artists who preferred to work with watercolours from 1831 until his death in 1855. The office was an expression of his importance: Copley Fielding was now Britain's most renowned representative of watercolour painting. Copley Fielding saw the purpose of his presidency on the one hand in the popularization of watercolour painting. Together with artist colleagues such as William Henry Hunt, Nathan Theodore0, Nathan Theodore1 or Nathan Theodore2 he promoted the interests of watercolour painting in very practical teaching courses, conversation evenings and exhibitions for experts and for ambitious interested parties. On the other hand, the organization of the exhibitions of the association was often fraught with problems: The great appreciation by the public, which was expressed in growing income and profits, was counterbalanced by extremely poor housekeeping. In addition, there were other economic uncertainties such as the war against France, which caused the number of visitors to fall ever further. Thus the Watercolour Society had to be liquidated first. But in 1812, the Society was refounded as the Society of Painters in Oil and Watercolours. Under the presidency of Copley Fielding, oil paintings were now also permitted. Today there is a successor society in London.
In addition to his duties at the Watercolour Society, Copley Anthony Vandyke Fielding was immensely productive. Impressive motifs in his paintings were landscapes and numerous maritime depictions. Famous are his depictions of mountain landscapes in Scotland, Northern England and Wales. In addition, there are motifs from Italy, which Fielding made from sketches by others. Fielding's paintings with sea motifs are considered by experts to be virtually unique: the British writer, painter and art historian John Ruskin enthuses about the depiction of "blinding freedom" and thundering sea forces in Fielding's watercolours and some late oil paintings. Copley Fielding is regarded as a British painter who is particularly brilliant with elegant and tasteful depictions and great craftsmanship.
The painter and draughtsman Copley Anthony Vandyke Fielding (1787-1855) is considered an icon of watercolour painting. Copley Fielding was fascinated by the art of painting from childhood on. No wonder, since his father Nathan Theodore Fielding was a busy portrait painter in West Yorkshire. The family of artists produced five sons, including Theodore Henry Adolphus, Thales and Newton Smith Fielding and Antony Vandyke Copley, who all followed in their father's footsteps and became painters. Alongside his older brother Nathan Theodore, who had made a name for himself as an engraver, painter and author, Antony Vandyke Copley became world famous as a protagonist of British watercolour painting.
In 1804, in addition to Copley Fielding, numerous renowned British artists such as John and Cornelius Varley, Robert Hills, Francis Nicholson, Nicholas Pocock, Samuel Shelley and William Henry Pyne as well as William Sawrey Gilpin founded the Society of Painters in Water Colours for the simple reason that they were simply not appreciated enough by the British Royal Academy of Arts. Exhibitions in the academy rooms at London's Burlington House were largely devoted to contemporary oil paintings - watercolour paintings were probably not given the space they deserved. Copley Anthony Vandyke Fielding was president of the association representing the interests of all British artists who preferred to work with watercolours from 1831 until his death in 1855. The office was an expression of his importance: Copley Fielding was now Britain's most renowned representative of watercolour painting. Copley Fielding saw the purpose of his presidency on the one hand in the popularization of watercolour painting. Together with artist colleagues such as William Henry Hunt, Nathan Theodore0, Nathan Theodore1 or Nathan Theodore2 he promoted the interests of watercolour painting in very practical teaching courses, conversation evenings and exhibitions for experts and for ambitious interested parties. On the other hand, the organization of the exhibitions of the association was often fraught with problems: The great appreciation by the public, which was expressed in growing income and profits, was counterbalanced by extremely poor housekeeping. In addition, there were other economic uncertainties such as the war against France, which caused the number of visitors to fall ever further. Thus the Watercolour Society had to be liquidated first. But in 1812, the Society was refounded as the Society of Painters in Oil and Watercolours. Under the presidency of Copley Fielding, oil paintings were now also permitted. Today there is a successor society in London.
In addition to his duties at the Watercolour Society, Copley Anthony Vandyke Fielding was immensely productive. Impressive motifs in his paintings were landscapes and numerous maritime depictions. Famous are his depictions of mountain landscapes in Scotland, Northern England and Wales. In addition, there are motifs from Italy, which Fielding made from sketches by others. Fielding's paintings with sea motifs are considered by experts to be virtually unique: the British writer, painter and art historian John Ruskin enthuses about the depiction of "blinding freedom" and thundering sea forces in Fielding's watercolours and some late oil paintings. Copley Fielding is regarded as a British painter who is particularly brilliant with elegant and tasteful depictions and great craftsmanship.