About this objectGirtin came from a humble background in London and was first apprenticed to Edward Dayes. They soon fell out and Girtin attended the Monro Academy where he befriended Turner. James Moore took him to Scotland in 1792 and two years later he toured the Midlands with him. In 1794 he exhibited his first drawing at the Royal Academy. In 1796 and 1798 he visited the Scottish borders and Yorkshire. In 1799 he founded the Sketching Club with Francia and embarked on a panorama of London the following year. He fell ill in 1801 and moved to Paris to combat tuberculosis which killed him the following year. Girtin was amoungst the most original watercolourists and from the mid 1790s, did more to raise the medium from the drudgery to topography than any other artist.
Girtin copied drawings by Edward Dayes and James Moore of Kirkstall Abbey in 1793. Seven years later, with the constraints of antiquarian interest set aside, he visited the abbey when he was staying at Hardwood House, and, with others, produced this watercolour.
MakerGirtin, Thomas (1775-1802)
Maker Rolepainter
Date Madec. 1800
Period19th century
Medium and Materialsmedium: watercolour
support: paper
Style and IconographyLandscape
Techniquewatercolour
Measurementsmedium height: 22.4cm
medium width: 31.2cm
Subject and Association KeywordsKirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire
