tour 1 of 18
Samuel Palmer
Samuel Palmer
Samuel Palmer (1805-81) was one of
Britain's greatest artists. He painted familiar scenes -
trees, villages, the night sky - but using rich forms and vivid
colours. Many are surprised that works that look so bold and modern
were painted nearly two centuries
ago.
Palmer became an
artist at a young age and was strongly influenced throughout his
career by the work of his friend and mentor William Blake.
Palmer's early work was partly shaped by his interest in
the 'primitive' artists of the fifteenth and
sixteenth century. For a time, he lived in the Kent village of
Shoreham, whose surrounding countryside became his 'Valley
of Vision'. After this he married and spent time in Italy;
following his return to London he worked in watercolour and took up
etching. In his later years, Palmer suffered a series of personal
hardships - including the death of his favourite son - and ended
his life living as a
recluse.
This tour was
written to accompany the exhibition Samuel
Palmer: vision and landscape, at the
British Museum from 21 October 2005 to 22 January 2006. It marked
the 200th anniversary of Palmer's birth and brought
together his finest pictures from collections around the
world.
Supported by the
American Friends of the British
Museum
Organised by the British Museum and The
Metropolitan Museum of Art