The Sapphire Sea
About this artwork
Melville first visited the Spanish port of Pasajes, on the Atlantic coast near San Sebastián, in 1892. The steep-sided bay, surrounded by fishing boats and red-roofed houses, inspired some of his most radical paintings. Here he uses a dramatic vertical composition to contrast the intense blue sea and the dazzling white buildings. Melville was closely associated with the group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. A highly original watercolourist, he painted in ‘blots and spots’ and used specially prepared paper to evoke brilliant colour and light.
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title:The Sapphire Sea
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accession number:NGL 003.11
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materials:Watercolour on paper
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date created:Unknown
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measurements:120.00 x 80.00 cm (framed: 111.50 x 84.20 x 9.00 cm)
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credit line:Private Collection on long term loan to the National Galleries of Scotland
Arthur Melville
Arthur Melville
Melville's travels in Europe and the Middle East inspired his vibrant paintings in oil and watercolour. He developed a distinctive technique of watercolour painting, described as 'blottesque', using dabs of pigment on wet paper and blotting them with a sponge. Melville, born in Angus, studied painting in Edinburgh before moving…