Tintern Abbey

Thomas Girtin is recognised as one of the most important watercolour artists in the history of the medium. He was apprenticed to the watercolourist and engraver Edward Dayes between 1789 and 1791-2. Dayes gave Girtin a training in the topographical tradition of watercolour, from which Girtin moved away in later years as he developed his own style, which has been described as 'visual poetry'. Tintern Abbey is a topographical watercolour. Stylistically it can be dated to around 1793 and Girtin, who did not visit South Wales, may have drawn it after a sketch by Dayes. The insecure perspective of the arches indicates this was one of Girtin's early works. An inscription on the reverse describes Girtin's view as the Abbey 'Looking down from the choir, down the Nave, showing the West Window'.