H. M. (Herbert Minton) Cundall

Born in London in 1848, Herbert Minton Cundall wrote extensively about British art, especially watercolor painting and 19th-century artists. Library and catalog records connect him with books including A History of British Water Colour Painting, Masters of Water-Colour Painting, and studies of artists such as Birket Foster and William Callow.

Several editions of his books describe him as I.S.O., F.S.A., showing that he was recognized both in public service and in antiquarian circles. Modern authority records also identify him as a curator, which fits the strong documentary and historical tone of his writing.

Cundall died in 1940. Today he is remembered less as a novelist than as a clear, informative guide to British art, especially for readers who want a readable introduction to watercolor painting, artists' lives, and the traditions behind their work.