Fishermen's Cottages and Other Houses on the Beach at Hastings

William Henry Hunt

1815–25 · Watercolor · Drawings and Prints

Early in his career, Hunt often spent winters in the coastal town Hastings, lodging in the Old Town near the local fishermen. This sketch uses freshly colored washes to describe working structures and likely dates to the first phase of the artist's career, which was devoted mostly to landscapes and architectural views. Once Hunt was elected an Associate of the Old Water-colour Society in 1824, his focus began to shift to rustic figures, often shown within detailed interiors, and to still-lives. The present image of wooden cottages with pinkish roofs, and adjacent yards bounded by wooden fences, demonstrates a delight in weathered, work-a-day materials.

Artist

William Henry Hunt

Date

1815–25

Medium

Watercolor

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Brooke Russell Astor Bequest, 2013