Junction of the Severn and the Wye with a Rainbow 1829

David Cox created this landscape with watercolour on paper. Cox was a master of the medium. Look closely and you can see the delicate washes of colour, built up in layers to create a sense of atmosphere and depth. Watercolour can be deceptive: it's portable and intimate, but is a demanding process that requires absolute control. Cox was working in a period when the English landscape itself was under pressure, as industrialisation and urbanisation transformed the countryside. By taking to the landscape with his materials, Cox was able to directly respond to the ever-changing interaction between people and place. By focusing on materials, making and context, we can appreciate the rich and complex story behind the art.