by-nc

A blasted tree in a landscape

Maker

(artist)
1717-1786

Title

A blasted tree in a landscape

Date of Production

(circa) 1780

Medium

traces of graphite, brown ink and brown wash on brown laid paper (treated with a turpentine varnish), laid down on artist's mount and framed in brown wash lines

Dimensions

Height: 31.5 cm
Width: 40.5 cm

Accession Number

D.1967.WS.29

Mode of Acquisition

William Wycliffe Spooner, bequest, 1967

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords



Label Text

An obsessive theoriser, Alexander Cozens propounded his systems for composing imaginary landscapes and categorizing natural phenomena in various publications. This format of a large close-up tree resembles one of sixteen basic ‘types’ designed to arouse emotion in the viewer. An awesome effect is created by the ancient lightening-struck tree, most probably a blasted oak, a mythological symbol of divine wrath.

Provenance

Benjamin West, London (1738-1820), L.419; J.M. Reveley; Mr and Mrs William Wycliffe Spooner, Ilkley (1882-1967); Spooner Bequest 1967

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Regarding Trees, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2016-25/09/2016

A Dialogue with Nature: Romantic Landscapes from Britain and Germany, The Morgan Library, New York, 30/05/2014-07/09/2014

A Dialogue with Nature: Romantic Landscapes from Britain and Germany, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/01/2014-27/04/2014 ...More

British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum and Art Gallery, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005

British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005; Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere, 18/07/2005-23/10/2005; Hermitage Rooms, Somerset House, London, 16/11/2005-12/02/2006

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992

The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986

English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/06/1979-01/09/1979

English Landscape Drawing and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/05/1977-01/06/1977

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974

English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 11/05/1973-02/06/1973

English Landscape Drawings [catalogue not found], Rye Art Gallery, England, 1971

Royal Academy of Arts Bicentenary Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 14/12/1968-02/03/1969

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/04/1968-01/07/1968 ...Less

Literature

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1968
cat. no. 3

English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 1973
cat. no. 15

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974
cat. no. 2 ...More

English Landscape Drawing and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1977
cat. no. 5

English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1979
cat. no. 10

Mantegna to Cezanne: Master Drawings from the Courtauld, British Museum, London, 1983
no. 81, p. 71
ill. on p. 88

The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 83
ill. on p. 191

Farr, Dennis, 100 Masterpieces from the Courtauld Collections, London: Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1987
p. 182
ill. on p. 183

Fleming-Williams, Ian, Constable and his drawings, London: Philip Wilson, 1990
p. 286
fig. 260 on p. 287

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 29
pp. 66, 178
ill. on p. 67

The Spooner Collection of British Watercolours, Courtauld Institute Galleries; Huntington Library; Wordsworth Trust, 2005-06
cat. no. 6
ill. on p. 85 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: centre: “D & C / B” within a shield [difficult to see as is laid down, but per notes in the file]. Support (historic): centre: “D&C BLAUW / IV”.

Collector's mark: Recto; lower left corner, blindstamped: :Benjamin West (L.419).

Inscription: Recto: upper right corner, graphite: “B”. Support (historic), Recto: lower left corner, grey ink, signed by the artist: “Alex.r Cozens.”. Support (historic), Verso: upper right corner, graphite, circled: “14”; lower right corner, graphite, Colnaghi number: “A 21365”.

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.ukFind out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection