The Norwich School of Artists

This book represents a new approach to the appreciation of the Norwich School of Artists. All the illustrations are of paintings in the collection of Norwich Castle Museum and the book therefore acts as a summary guide to a collection of national significance. Brief biographies and portraits of the leading artists are contained within nine chapters. Each chapter acts as the setting for a group of paintings, each of which is individually discussed. Landscapes, marine paintings, portraiture and still life pictures illustrate the range of the Norwich artists. The introduction briefly outlines the artistic background of 18th-century Norwich and discusses the unique phenomenon of the Norwich Society of Artists within the social, economic and political context of the city at the beginning of the 19th century. The contribution of local patrons is briefly considered, together with the role of artistic contacts in London and also other provincial centres.