GEORGE FENNEL ROBSON (1790--1833), after leaving his native Durham, exhibited many pictures at the Royal Academy, but his best works appeared at the exhibitions of the Water-Colour Society. He illustrated many books, and painted in conjunction with Hills, who contributed animals. Three of his works are at South Kensington. THOMAS HEAPHY (1775--1835) was born in London, and having been, like many other artists, apprenticed to an uncongenial craft, left it to pursue the art of an engraver. This, however, gave place to painting, and he commenced with portraiture. He exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time in 1800, and was admitted an Associate Exhibitor of the Water-Colour Society in 1807, and a member in 1808. For a time he accompanied the English army in the Peninsula, and found patrons among the officers. At South Kensington are two of his figure subjects, _Coast Scene, with figures_, and _The wounded Leg_. [Illustration: BERNCASTLE, ON THE MOSELLE. _By_ HARDING.] WILLIAM HENRY HUNT (1790--1864) was one of the most original as well as the most versatile of the water-colour school. Starting as a landscape painter, he, in later years, excelled in rustic figure subjects, whilst as a painter of fruits and flowers he was without a rival. Hunt was a pupil of Varley, and had the advantage of Dr. Monro's friendship. The varied character of his art may be seen at South Kensington, in _Boy and Goats_, and a _Brown Study_ (a negro boy puzzling over an addition sum), which illustrate his figure subjects, whilst _Hawthorn Blossoms and Bird's Nest_, _Primroses and Birds' Nests_, and _Plums_, are examples of another side of Hunt's genius. His humorous pictures _The Attack_, _The Defeat_, _The Puzzled Politician_, and _The Barber's Shop_ are well known. JAMES DUFFIELD HARDING (1798--1863), the son of an artist, was intended for a lawyer, but chose to become a painter. At the age of fifteen he was a pupil of Samuel Prout, and at first his works owed much to that artist. Like his master he did not succeed in foliage. Harding gained the silver medal of the Society of Arts for a water-colour drawing, and became very popular as a drawing-master. He published many lesson books, in which he called in lithography to his aid. His visit to France and Italy resulted in numerous studies, which are embodied in _The Landscape Annual_. He is represented at South Kensington by _A Landscape with Hovels_. Harding is described as the first water-colour artist who used, to any extent, body-colour mixed with transparent tints. His example was almost always injurious. [Illustration: THE VIEW FROM RICHMOND HILL. _By_ DE WINT.]