American watercolor in the age of Homer & Sargent: A celebration of American art

Tracing the development of the watercolour movement from its passionate embrace by a small, but dedicated group of painters in the1860s to the flowering of Modernism, this sweeping survey will examine the remarkable transformation of the medium that occurred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is centred on the achievements of two of its most influential practitioners: Winslow Homer (1836-1910) and John Singer Sargent (1856-1925).

The exhibition, which begins in March and runs until May, will demonstrate the extraordinary range of the works that American artists created in watercolour, from intricately detailed landscapes and genre scenes to architectural renderings and designs for ceramics and stained glass.

In addition to exceptional examples by Homer and Sargent, it will examine the art of many other leading American artists such as William T. Richards, Thomas Moran, and Edwin Austin Abbey, whose reputations were greatly enhanced by the popularity of their work. Discover more at philamuseum.org.

All images courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art. Main image: Diamond Shoal, 1905. Winslow Homer, American, 1836-1910. Watercolor and graphite on paper, Sheet: 14 × 21 7/8 inches. Private Collection.