Quintet

Adrian Bury writes about how Sir William prepared for painting scenes abroad:

“Having decided his subject he fixed his tripod easel, which could be moved to lay the drawing-board at any angle. He used heavy water-colour paper that did not need stretching and would literally ‘stand up to the subject” and briefly indicate with chalk the salient figures of the composition, the while studying its general design, colour and atmospheric and tonal effect.”