PACIFIC OCEAN (June 16, 2015) Sailors perform a foreign object damage (FOD) walk-down on the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48). Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

Greenfield House, Greenfield Road, Harborne, home of David Cox, the Birmingham-born watercolourist.

EAST CHINA SEA (June 05, 2015) - Sailors from USS Ashland (LSD-48) Deck department watch as the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) positions itself during an underway replenishment. Ashland is a part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHRARG). BHRARG assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

ADMIRALTY GULF (July 8, 2015) Culinary Specialist Seaman Christopher Sweet from Topeka Kansas, makes lunch for Sailors on board Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1666 assigned to Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7, during an Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) exercise for Talisman Sabre 2015. Ashland is in the Indian Ocean participating in Talisman Sabre 2015, Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 26, 2016) The guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) approaches the fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) for a replenishment-at-sea to receive a blend of advanced biofuel. Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Stockdale is operating as part of the John C. Stennis Strike Group and Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled 7th Fleet deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 9, 2015) The lights inside the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) glows at night. Ashland is in the Indian Ocean participating in Talisman Sabre 2015, Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 7, 2015) Seaman Jordan Lawson from Waverly, Iowa, looks for contacts during his watchstanding duties as aft lookout, aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Sailors from the John C. Stennis Strike Group are participating in a sustainment training exercise (SUSTEX) to prepare for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 11th, 2015) Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and service members from the amphibious unit of the Royal Australian Army launch out of the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) in amphibious assault vehicles during Talisman Sabre 2015. Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

Now that I know that you can take photos inside the Birmingham Musuem & Art Gallery, thought I'd go along and take what I wanted (not the paintings).

This is in the part of the museum near Great Charles Street Queensway.

On Friday it opened at 10:30am and I got here just in time before the crowds showed up.

I mainly wanted to take the busts I previously saw in the art galleries.

Think I got most of them.

Signs about David Cox and Birmingham.

SAN DIEGO HARBOR (Nov. 3, 2015) Sailors store mooring lines during sea and anchor detail on the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Sailors from the John C. Stennis Strike Group are participating in a sustainment training exercise (SUSTEX) to prepare for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 05, 2015) Seaman Apprentice Jamal Long from Biloxi, Mississippi lays out distance lines on the deck of the USS Ashland (LSD-48) during an underway replenishment with the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6). Ashland is a part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHRARG). BHRARG assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

SEA OF JAPAN (June 05, 2015) - Sailors on board the USS Ashland (LSD-48) perform a foreign object debris (FOD) walk down of the flight deck in preparation for flight operations. Ashland is a part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHRARG). BHRARG assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

Before 1859

By David Cox (1783 to 1859)

VA.1961.4

David Cox is widely regarded as one of the greatest British watercolourists and a forerunner of Impressionism. He was born in Birmingham and moved to London in 1804 to work as a theatre scene painter. Soon after, he began to study art under John Varley.

By the middle of the 1700s watercolour painting had become a significant and highly regarded art form in England, practised by several leading artists. A distinct tradition emerged of watercolour views of towns and the countryside, which became popular with both artists and patrons. Painting in watercolours remains extremely popular and is practised by some leading contemporary artists

The Herbert has around 1500 watercolours in its collection, many of which show views of local areas. They demonstrate the history of watercolour painting and show what Coventry and Warwickshire looked like in the past.

The ruins of medieval castles and abbeys became popular subjects for watercolour artists in the late 1700s, and these paintings were often reproduced as prints. The 1800s saw a growing interest in history, encouraged by bestselling historical writers such as Sir Walter Scott. His novel Kenilworth was published in 1821 and the combination of an attractive ruin with a fascinating story inspired many artists to paint Kenilworth Castle.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 6, 2015) Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Ezequiel Scervantes from Salem, Oregon signals to Sailors to continue refueling an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Raptors of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Sailors from the John C. Stennis Strike Group are participating in a sustainment training exercise (SUSTEX) to prepare for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

SEA OF JAPAN (June 11, 2015) - The MK 38 Mod 2 25 MM Machine Gun System fires during an air and surface warfare qualification exercise on board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland's (LSD-48). Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 22, 2016) Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) Fireman Kardeesha Stringer, from Mobile, Alabama, has a bottle of JP-5 fuel examined for contamination by Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) Enrico Caquioa, from Long Beach, California, aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) during a replenishment-at-sea. Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Stockdale is operating as part of the John C. Stennis Strike Group and Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled 7th Fleet deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

EAST CHINA SEA (June 05, 2015) Sailors from USS Ashland (LSD-48) Deck department watch as the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) positions itself during an underway replenishment. Ashland is a part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHRARG). BHRARG assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

151103-N-KM939-110.SAN DIEGO HARBOR (Nov. 3, 2015) - Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) store mooring lines during a torrential downpour as the ship departs for a short underway period. Sailors from the John C. Stennis Strike Group are participating in a sustainment training exercise (SUSTEX) to prepare for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

work by David Cox

160203-N-KM939-037.PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 03, 2016) - Chief Hospital Corpsman Kati Ivey, from Thomaston, Georgia, gives stretcher bearer training to the Medical Response Team aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Providing a combat-ready force to protect collective maritime interests, Stockdale, assigned to the Stennis strike group, is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 12, 2015) Sailors from the flight deck crew run to secure an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Raptors of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 with chocks and chains on the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Sailors from the John C. Stennis Strike Group are participating in a sustainment training exercise (SUSTEX) to prepare for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 10, 2015) Cpl. John Ayers briefs soldiers from the amphibious unit of the Australian Army on amphibious assault vehicle safety aboard the dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during Talisman Sabre 2015. Talisman Sabre is a bilateral exercise intended to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

ADMIRALTY GULF (July 5, 2015) An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat squadron (HSC) 25 positions itself to pick up cargo from the The fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO-199) during a vertical replenishment (VERT-REP) on board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48). Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 5, 2016) The team leader and overhaulman for repair locker 5 enter a space with a simulated fire during a general quarters drill aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Providing a combat-ready force to protect collective maritime interests, Stockdale, assigned to the Stennis strike group, is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb 01, 2016) Sailors wait for a transfer crane to drop cargo during a connected replenishment (CONREP) with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187) aboard the guided-missile destroyer, USS Stockdale (DDG 106). Providing a combat-ready force to protect collective maritime interests, Stockdale, assigned to the Stennis strike group, is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

INDIAN OCEAN (July 3rd, 2015) - Lt. Christine Walkin from Sydney, New York exercises on the upper level of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48). Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox)

work by David Cox