Eric Shanes (1944–2017)

Turner’s Rivers, Harbours and Coasts provides a comprehensive record of the artist’s watercolours which concentrate on the South Coast of England, from Kent to Cornwall, but there are also a few of the North East Coast; and the term “coast” is taken loosely and includes quite a few scenes inland from the coast.

The introductory chapter outlines the circumstances which led to the execution of the watercolours and engravings included here in addition to discussing the importance of these works within Turner’s output. The author also provides a brief commentary, usually two or three paragraphs, sometimes more, on each of the paintings where he considers such aspects as how Turner has composed the picture and his use of colour. In addition he might include a few notes on the subject of the picture or other relevant points. The plates follow separately, more than ninety reproduced full-page in colour followed by another twenty or more in black and white, mostly the engravings, of which only some are full page. In addition there are several small black and white images accompanying the text.

The book is landscape in format, 8.5” x 12” (21.7cm x 30.5cm) 160 pages, published 1981.… (mere)

In his extensive and well documented text, Eric Shane, painter and art historian, considers the responses of the Impressionist, French and otherwise, to London. His survey includes Monet, Camille Pissarro, Sisley, van Gogh, Derain, Tissot, Degas, Whistler, Sargent, Lucien Pissarro, Spencer Gore, Harold Gilman, Sickert, Vlaminck, Kokoschka and others. The book includes a bibliography and index.

It is illustrated throughout with over 90 colour and nearly 50 black and white illustrations. Many of the colour images are full page, and there are a few full page bleed images of a detail from a painting. The quality of reproduction is good, the monochromes reproducing especially well, the colour images maybe a little subdued. Well produced and attractively designed, it includes many familiar and some less familiar paintings.

9.3” x 10.3” (23.7 cm x 26.5 cm) 184 pages. Published 1994. ISBN 1558595678. Hardback.… (mere)