Arthur Melville

by Kenneth McConkey, Charlotte Topsfield

Arthur Melville was arguably the most innovative and modernist Scottish artist of his generation and one of the finest watercolourists of the nineteenth century, yet he avoided categorization. In 1943 the Scottish Colourist John Duncan Fergusson confessed that although they never met, "his work opened up to me the way to free painting - not merely freedom in the use of paint, but freedom of outlook."

This book offers a comprehensive survey of Arthur Melville's (1855-1904) rich and varied career as artist-adventurer, Orientalist, forerunner of The Glasgow Boys, painter of modern life and re-interpreter of the landscape of Scotland. His travels inspired spectacular watercolors and paintings. This book illustrates around sixty of his works, each with a catalogue entry, and an essay by Kenneth McConkey, which discusses Melville's art and career.

Genres: Art

136 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2015

About the author

Kenneth McConkey is Professor of Art History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Northumbria at Newcastle. He has written extensively about late Victorian and Edwardian painting.

Reviews

[Reread · Rating 5 out of 5]

More people need to see the work of this guy! Exceptional talent in watercolours and this book gives a great account of his life, work and influence.

[Commander Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeap another read, well not so much of the reading so much of looking again at the images.

Why isn't he better known?

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb book.I bought it after seeing the Melville exhibition at the RSA in Edinburgh which was just heaven.If you do not know this artist look him up online, view some watercolours and enjoy this book!