Cloud study of light cirro-cumulus beneath cirrus
1803-1811
Cloud studies
- Made:
- 1803-1811 in United Kingdom
- artist:
- Luke Howard
A collection of 51 drawings with 1 engraving, studies of clouds c1803-1811, by the meteorologist Luke Howard FRS (1772-1864). Mainly pencil and wash, 19x28cm. or smaller with conservation paper backs or edging. - Collection assembled in 1923 by Howard's granddaughter Mariabella Fry from 'loose scraps among family papers, without note or comment' and subsequently deposited by the Royal Meteorological Society. - Some sketches are inscribed, only two dated. Showing observations of cloud formations while adopting the nomenclature presented in Howard's paper 'On the modifications of clouds' 1803. Six drawings have highly finished landscapes probably by an assistant, Silvanus Bevan. Some are originals for engravings of cloud formations in editions of the classification promulgated in Philosophical Magazine 1803, Rees's Cyclopedia and other, later publications. For specific details of each drawing please see 1981-862/1 to 1981-862/52
Chemist and amateur meterologist Luke Howard captured the different shapes and colours of clouds in these delicate pencil and watercolour sketches. Along with observations of height and movement, he managed the unimaginable and classified the clouds. Howard identified three basic families of clouds, using Latin names: cirrus ('curl of hair'), stratus ('layer') and cumulus ('heap' or 'pile'). He then added a further four subcategories - cirro-cumulus, cirro-stratus (nimbus) to explain the way clouds could swiftly change in appearance or join with others in the sky. Howard collaborated with the artist Edward Kennion to produce more picturesque cloud sketches for the third edition of his 'Essay on the Modification of Clouds' published in Alexander Tilloch’s 'Philosophical Magazine' in 1865.
Cloud study of Layers of stratus, wreathing mountain slopes
1807
Cloud study of Cirrus
1803-1811
Cloud study of cirrus, above light cirrostratus, with cirrocumulus below
1803-1811
Cloud study of bank of cumulus lit from behind by the Sun
1803-1811
Cloud study of Aggregate cumulus in different stages
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cumulus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cumulus and a little stratus
1803-1811
Cloud study of stratus beneath cumulus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cumulus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Bank of cumulus amassed over hilly landscape
1803-1811
Cloud study of Heaped cumulus, with stratus beginning, above a hilly landscape
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cumulo-stratus above house in landscape
1803-1811
Cloud study of Light cumulus above sketched landscape with distant flattened hill
circa 1807
Cloud study of cirrocumulus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cirrocumulus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cumulus blowing in high wind
1803
Cloud study of Light cumulus and stratus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Cumulus, with nimbus and touch of stratus possibly above a lake
1803-1811
Cloud study of Light cumulus
1803-1811
Cloud study of light cirrostratus, above cumulus
1811
Cloud study of dark cirrostratus
1803-1811
Cloud study of dark cirrostratus or fading nimbus
1803-1811
Cloud study of Reluctant cirrostratus above outline landscape
1803-1811
Cloud study of nimbus
1803-1811
