Study of sea shells
About the work
Joseph Clark produced many genre scene oil paintings, which were generally well received by the Victorian public, and he was a regular exhibitor of childhood subjects at the Royal Academy. Before he started his oil paintings, he normally made a series of precise drawings and expressive watercolours of the chosen subject. Here he has made a still life study of shells and coral, perhaps intending it to be developed as a detail in a larger painting. In this small, expressive watercolour, Clark moves away from the meaning and allegory found in his oils, stripping the composition back to its essential elements to reveal a surprisingly modern interest in form and colour.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- E.921-2003
