The Long Gallery, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire 1840

David Cox made this watercolor of The Long Gallery in Hardwick Hall using paper and pigments in the 19th century. The Long Gallery was designed to impress, and Cox has captured its vastness by using translucent washes of color. Watercolors allow for blending and layering of colors, as well as the ability to capture light and atmosphere. In contrast to oil paints, watercolors don't have the same level of saturation or opacity, which gives this scene its airy and dreamlike feel. The paintings lining the wall speak of wealth, power, and lineage, and the very architecture of the gallery is a statement of status. Cox has used his materials and techniques to depict a space that embodies social and cultural significance, highlighting the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.