Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Thomas Collier died in 1691; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1761.
In context
Cader Idris — Thomas Collier
Row above: the year. Row below: the artist's age in that year.
Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Collier (1620–1691)
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
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Measured from the image
Main colour
Rosy Brown #a1937d
Catalogued palette
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 99.7% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 55 works by this artist, of which 11 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 10 of them, with 8.3% of that attention.
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Glossop, United Kingdom
In the annals of English landscape painting, few names evoke the serene and unpretentious beauty of the countryside quite like Thomas Collier. A master of the watercolour medium, Collier possessed a rare ability to capture the atmospheric essence of the natural world without ever succumbing to the need for theatricality or popular pandering. Born in Glossop, Derbyshire, he was the son of a prosperous grocer and tea dealer, a background that provided him with the financial independence necessary to pursue his artistic passions on his own terms. This freedom allowed him to wander through the landscapes of the Suffolk countryside and the lush terrains of northern Wales, seeking out those quiet, evocative moments that define the true spirit of the British landscape.
His artistic journey was deeply shaped by his early training at the Manchester School of Art. Inspired by the legendary David Cox, Collier sought to emulate a sense of naturalism and light that felt both grounded and ethereal. During the years between 1864 and 1869, he resided in Betws-y-Coed, a period that undoubtedly deepened his connection to the rugged beauty of the Welsh landscape. His technical prowess was not merely about the application of pigment but about the layering of washes to create depth, light, and a palpable sense of atmosphere. This dedication to the craft eventually led to his election to the New Water Colour Society in London around 1870, marking his emergence as a significant figure within the professional art community.
Collier’s work is characterized by an industrious yet refined approach. While he was not a prolific exhibitor, those who encountered his paintings often found themselves captivated by his ability to render the subtle nuances of nature. His friendships with fellow artists, such as Edmund Morison Wimperis and Charles Stuart Millard, created a vibrant circle of influence that enriched the landscape tradition of his era. He was a painter who could find profound beauty in a simple forest scene or an expansive view of sheep on a track, imbuing even the most modest subjects with a sense of timelessness.
His achievements were recognized far beyond the borders of England. In 1878, his talent earned him the prestigious distinction of being made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour following the presentation of a painting to the Paris International Exhibition. This international acclaim underscored the universal appeal of his vision. Even as he established a grand studio at Hampstead Hill Gardens in 1879, Collier remained focused on the intrinsic qualities of his subject matter. His life and work remain a testament to the power of the landscape watercolour to convey the profound tranquility and enduring charm of the natural world.
wikioo.org/en/art/download/thomas-collier-cader-idris-9FJKVR-en/
Look closely
Cader Idris — Thomas Collier
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An ochre to sepia hue runs through "Cader Idris" by Thomas Collier.
A preview of "Cader Idris" by Thomas Collier is available on the artwork's Preview page.
"Cader Idris" is attributed to Thomas Collier.
Hand-painted copies of "Cader Idris" by Thomas Collier are sold on this website: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, ordered from this page.
A slideshow is available: the Diaporama page of "Cader Idris" by Thomas Collier.
A digital image of "Cader Idris" by Thomas Collier can be purchased on this page: a high-resolution digital image download.
A print of "Cader Idris" by Thomas Collier can be ordered directly on this page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.