Glossary: Landscape painting

The word landscape derives from the Dutch "landschap" which roughly translates as an area of cultivated ground. Landscape painting has been a source of constantly changing scenes since the earliest days of art and still attracts artists both amateur and professional. The subject was at it's height in the 18th century when a new breed of topographical artists toured round Britain recording the countryside. They were often commissioned in their work by publishers producing guide books and by the landed gentry who wanted to record their estates for posterity. This was all before the invention of photography in the 19th century, which meant that these recorders had to move on to different subject matters. In Britain were we blessed with many gifted landscape artists including Peter deWint, David Cox, J M W Turner, John Constable, John and Paul Nash and many more.

Landscapes are a popular art style and a selection of high quality works can be viewed here