Road scene, Hethersett

John Crome is today viewed not only as a most accomplished painter of the famous Norwich School of artists but as a catalyst for the English etching revival of the nineteenth century. Mainly self-taught, Crome began his education by copying the old masters. It was here he first became acquainted with the landscape art of the 17th century Dutch school, and their art, particularly Ruisdael and Hobbema, proved a lifelong inspiration. Crome was a founding member and President of the Norwich Society of Artists (1803) and exhibited frequently at both the Royal Academy and the British Institution.

In total John Crome created 33 etchings in hard and soft grounds, all apparently dating from 1809 to 1813. He did not publish any of his original etchings during his lifetime and printed only a handful of impressions for his friends and fellow artists. These comprise the very rare first states which are almost exclusively in the collections of British public museums. It was not until 1834, thirteen years after Crome's death, that his widow published sets of thirty-one of his etchings in a limited edition of 60 impressions. Road scene, Hethersett is from this set.

Crome's landscape art serves as a bridge between the picturesque traditions of the 18th century and the Romantic masterworks of the 19th century. In particular, his etchings paved the way for the art of Samuel Palmer, Seymour Haden, Whistler and many others in the later 19th century.. Valued for their direct conception and composition, his etchings portray the spirit of nature in all its vitality. It doesn't seem at all surprising that they are based on plein-air (on the spot) sketches. Amazingly, all of Crome's most influential etched art was created within a short walk of his Norwich house. Hethersett, not far away, appears from this print to be set in idyllic, rolling countryside, yet most people associate Norfolk with flatness.  Perhaps Crome embroiders the truth - but can you think of any great artist who is altogether innocent of that?

See: Art of the Print, http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/crome_john_roadscenehethersett.htm

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art   April 2018