Classical Landscape (After Poussin) 

David Cox created this watercolour painting, *Classical Landscape (After Poussin)*, in the style of a classical composition, yet filtered through a distinctly Romantic sensibility. Immediately, we are struck by the use of colour and the overall structure of the scene. Cox employs a rich, dark palette in the foreground to frame the brighter, more idyllic landscape beyond. The composition follows a deliberate structure: a body of water in the lower portion of the picture, an adjacent foreground of overgrown vegetation, and trees that create a sense of enclosure, all of which invites the viewer's eye towards the distant hills and clouded sky. This design evokes a feeling of depth and perspective. Consider how Cox uses the medium of watercolour to its full potential, blending washes of colour to create soft, atmospheric effects. The brushstrokes are loose, which adds to the Romantic mood of the scene and lends a sense of movement and changeability to the landscape. The painting does not simply replicate the landscapes of classical art. Through its structural composition and the use of atmospheric perspective, the artwork suggests a much larger cultural context. This challenges fixed notions of beauty and tradition, suggesting a move toward personal expression and emotional depth in art.