Thomas Girtin (1775-1802), major innovator in the field of landscape watercolour painting. Born in Southwark, son of a brushmaker and apprenticed to Edward Dayes the topographical artist in 1788. First exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1794 and conducted a tour of the midlands with James Moore. Worked in Dr Monro 's house in Adelphi Terrace, copying watercolours and Canaletto drawings in the evenings from around 1795 with Turner. Founded Girtin's Sketching Club (also known as The Brothers) in 1799. Visited North Wales in 1800, probably with Sir George Beaumont and in the following year visited Paris and executed work in soft ground etching. In 1802 he returned to London in May and died on 9 November shortly after the birth of his son. Girtin's work contained a considerable range of technical developments in technique and media and forms the transition from the watercolour drawings of the eighteenth century to the developments of the nineteenth century. Ruskin had a high regard for the work of Thomas Girtin (see Ruskin and Girtin).