author
Martin Hardie
1875–1952
Remembered for his deep knowledge of British watercolour and printmaking, he combined a working artist’s eye with a curator’s care. His books helped shape how later readers and collectors understood the history of British art.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in London in 1875, Martin Hardie built a varied career as a painter in watercolour, printmaker, art historian, and museum curator. He became especially closely associated with the study of British watercolour painting and with the world of etching and prints.
Hardie worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum and earned a reputation as an expert on graphic art. He also wrote widely on the subject, including studies of British etching and, most notably, a major history of watercolour painting in Britain that was published after his death and came to be regarded as an important standard work.
Alongside his writing and museum work, he exhibited as an artist in his own right. That mix of maker, scholar, and curator gives his work a practical warmth that still makes him an interesting figure for readers who enjoy art history grounded in real artistic practice.