The Honister Pass from Gatesgarth Farm, Gatesgarthdale, Lake District

1789–1804

Not on view

The Lake District inspired some of Dayes's finest work, and lively washes are here applied in a manner that influenced Thomas Girtin, the artist's most notable pupil. When Girtin and J. M. W. Turner toured Britain in the 1790s, they worked in a style learned from Dayes, whose important role in developing watercolor's potential is little recognized. Here, he uses strong framing elements and enhances the scene with distinct local details. A late 18th century taste for picturesque roughness is heightened by the steeply falling terrain and swiftly moving clouds to add drama and immediacy.

Artwork Details

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References

Title: The Honister Pass from Gatesgarth Farm, Gatesgarthdale, Lake District
Artist: Edward Dayes (British, London 1763–1804 London)
Date: 1789–1804
Medium: Watercolour over graphite, heightened with reductive techniques
Dimensions: Sheet: 12 5/8 × 17 13/16 in. (32.1 × 45.2 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Mary Oenslager Fund, 2014
Object Number: 2014.661
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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