The Rocky Beach and Cliffs at Fécamp

mid-1830s

Edward William Cooke

Associated Names
Edward William Cooke

Artist, British, 1811 - 1880

The image displays a coastal scene with a rocky shore featuring round boulders and tidal pools. The horizon is low, meeting the ocean where a small sailboat with a bright sail is visible. In the distance, a faint horizon separates the sea from the sky. On the right, tall cliffs with stratified layers are depicted in earthy browns and subtle greens. The brushwork is delicate and detailed, with softly blended watercolors in the sky transitioning from pale blues to warm creams. The color palette consists of soft, natural tones, creating a serene coastal atmosphere.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 18.7 × 27.8 cm (7 3/8 × 10 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2013.14.2


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(James MacKinnon, Midhurst, UK); purchased 2012 by NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2014

  • The Color of Nature: Recent Acquisitions of Landscape Watercolors, NGA, 2014.

2023

  • Drawing in Britain, 1700 - 1900: New Additions to the Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2023.

Inscriptions

lower right in watercolor: E W COOKE ARA

Wikidata ID

Q64557798

You may be interested in

Loading Results