West arrived in Bristol around 1823. He started exhibiting there in 1823, and from 1824 as well as participating in the sketching activities of the Bristol School he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. However, after 1826 he did not exhibit at those two institutions again until 1845. From 1847 he concentrated on Norwegian subjects.[1]
West developed a great interest in optics and engineering. In 1828 he leased a disused windmill on Clifton Down and installed a large telescope in its tower to turn it into an observatory. In 1829 he replaced the telescope with a camera obscura. From 1835 he extended the windmill to create a new observatory, building a large dome to house a rotating telescope. He filled the observatory with a collection of maps, globes and optical instruments. In 1837 he opened a tunnel 61 m (200 ft) in length which he had excavated from the observatory down to St Vincent's Cave on the cliff-face of the Avon Gorge.[1][2][3] In 1834 West exhibited The Avon Gorge from the summit of the Observatory, an oil painting from the vantage point that he had built.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcGreenacre, Francis (1973). The Bristol School of Artists: Francis Danby and Painting in Bristol 1810–1840 (exhibition catalogue). Bristol: City Art Gallery, Bristol. pp. 193–195.
^ ab"Clifton Observatory". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
^ abGreenacre, Francis (2005). From Bristol to the Sea: Artists, the Avon Gorge and Bristol Harbour. Bristol: Redcliffe. pp. 96–97. ISBN978-1-904537-39-7.
External linksedit
Media related to William West (painter) at Wikimedia Commons
Clifton Observatory
January 01, 1970
william, west, artist, william, west, 1801, english, painter, watercolourist, member, bristol, school, artists, also, builder, clifton, observatory, clifton, down, bristol, william, westnewstead, abbey, canvas, born1801died1861nationalityenglishknown, foroil, . William West 1801 61 was an English oil painter and watercolourist who was a member of the Bristol School of artists 1 He was also the builder of the Clifton Observatory at Clifton Down Bristol 2 William WestNewstead Abbey oil on canvas Born1801Died1861NationalityEnglishKnown forOil painting Watercolour West arrived in Bristol around 1823 He started exhibiting there in 1823 and from 1824 as well as participating in the sketching activities of the Bristol School he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution However after 1826 he did not exhibit at those two institutions again until 1845 From 1847 he concentrated on Norwegian subjects 1 West developed a great interest in optics and engineering In 1828 he leased a disused windmill on Clifton Down and installed a large telescope in its tower to turn it into an observatory In 1829 he replaced the telescope with a camera obscura From 1835 he extended the windmill to create a new observatory building a large dome to house a rotating telescope He filled the observatory with a collection of maps globes and optical instruments In 1837 he opened a tunnel 61 m 200 ft in length which he had excavated from the observatory down to St Vincent s Cave on the cliff face of the Avon Gorge 1 2 3 In 1834 West exhibited The Avon Gorge from the summit of the Observatory an oil painting from the vantage point that he had built 3 References edit a b c Greenacre Francis 1973 The Bristol School of Artists Francis Danby and Painting in Bristol 1810 1840 exhibition catalogue Bristol City Art Gallery Bristol pp 193 195 a b Clifton Observatory historicengland org uk Retrieved 21 September 2010 a b Greenacre Francis 2005 From Bristol to the Sea Artists the Avon Gorge and Bristol Harbour Bristol Redcliffe pp 96 97 ISBN 978 1 904537 39 7 External links edit nbsp Media related to William West painter at Wikimedia Commons Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery Clifton Observatory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William West artist amp oldid 1217707822, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
