Francis Swaine

Francis Swaine (1725-1782) was a British marine painter. As a young man he worked as an office messenger with the British Navy, but then left that employment to become an artist. He married the daughter of the painter Peter Monamy (1681-1749), who probably was also his teacher. Later, his son Monamy Swaine also became a marine painter. Francis Swaine was influenced by the style of earlier Dutch painters, especially Willem van de Velde the Younger. He was a popular artist of his time and regularly displayed works at the Society of Artists and the Free Society of Artists. Today, several of his works are held in the National Maritime Museum in London.

Francis Swaine, marine painter, was born in 1725, and christened on 7th October that year, at St Dunstan’s, Stepney, London. He has hitherto, in most reference books, been confused with another man, christened Francis Swain on 22 June, 1719, at St Botolph-without-Aldgate, London.

Swaine married Mary Monamy, the daughter of Peter Monamy (1681-1749), marine painter, at Allhallows, London Wall, on 29th June 1749, aged 24. Their children were christened Anna Maria Swaine, on 27th Jan 1750/51; and Monamy Swaine, christened on 27th Feb 1753, both at St Dunstan’s church in Stepney. Monamy Swaine also became a marine painter. Francis Swaine, died in 1782.

In the will of Sir Samuel Young (1766-1826), son of Admiral Sir George Young (1733-1821), Francis Swaine is referred to as “Old Swaine, pupil of Monami”.

References

* [http://www.familysearch.org Parish Register Collection of the Latter Day Saints (IGI)]
* [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/mag/pages/mnuInDepth/Biography.cfm?biog=86 Biography of F. Swaine (National Maritime Museum, London)]

Navy Board: Out-letters ADM 354/151/167. In this item, contained in The Catalogue of the National Archives, it is stated that "Francis Swaine, Head Messenger to this Office, died yesterday. Date 1755. 1755 Oct 11." This man, whose will is recorded as an online document, PROB 11/824, and dated 1756, has been repeatedly confused with Francis Swaine, the marine painter. There is no verifiable evidence that Francis Swaine, marine painter, ever worked as a messenger for the Navy Office.

Swaine was not particularly influenced by the style of van de Velde. On the other hand, he was demonstrably influenced by the style of Peter Monamy, whose pupil he was.