Thomas Bush Hardy was one of the most successful and prolific artists in an era when English marine painting in watercolour reached its zenith. He was one of the few artists who took the trouble to study, understand and then reproduce all the elements of a successful marine watercolour. As the many illustrations in this books show, Hardy had an enviable ability to capture the atmosphere, be it peaceful or dramatic, of each occasion. Most of the pictures used here are held in private collections and include many of his finest works. Although Hardy is mentioned in many books covering the Victorian era, this is the first detailed and fully illustrated study of his comparatively short but fascinating career. SELLING POINTS: Charts Hardy's life and artistic career, providing a fully illustrated chronicle of his travels up and down the English coast, the Dutch beaches, the French Channel ports and his much-loved Venetian lagoons ILLUSTRATIONS 217 colour illustrations