- Thomas Whitcombe
Thomas Whitcombe (possibly 19 May 1763 – circa 1824) was a British maritime painter.
Life
Thomas Whitcombe was born in
London between 1752 and 19 May 1763, with the latter date frequently cited. Little is known of his background or training, although speculation based on the locations depicted in his paintings may provide some clues.It is known that he was in
Bristol in 1787 and later travelled to the South Coast; there are few ports or harbours from this region that do not feature in his work. In 1789 he touredWales and in 1813 he travelled toDevon , painting scenes aroundPlymouth harbour. During his career he also painted scenes showing theCape of Good Hope ,Madeira ,Cuba andCape Horn . Between 1783 and 1824 he lived in London, including addresses inCovent Garden and Somers Town during the course of his exhibiting career.His date of death, like that of his birth is uncertain; it was not before 1824, and possibly as late as 1834.
tyle
His range of work embraced naval engagements, ship portraits, coastal scenes with shipping and ships at sea in fresh breezes and storms. The topography of the background is interesting and well observed and the depiction of the ships themselves detailed and technically very correct, a legacy of time spent in dockyards studying the subject matter. The backgrounds are delightfully atmospheric and, like many British marine artists of the 18th and 19th century, Whitcombe favoured a dark foreground. cite web|url=http://www.johnbennettfinepaintings.com/johnbennett_fine_paintings/marine/262.asp|accessdate=2008-02-28|title=Thomas Whitcombe Biography at John Bennett Fine Paintings]
Artistic Achievement
Whitcombe was, with
Nicholas Pocock ,Thomas Luny ,Francis Holman and Robert Dodd, a leading maritime painter of theFrench Revolutionary Wars andNapoleonic Wars . He painted over 150 actions of theRoyal Navy including fifty plates for "The Naval Achievements of Great Britain", a splendid volume issued after the cessation of hostilities. [cite web|url=http://www.artnet.com/artist/17785/thomas-whitcombe.html|accessdate=2008-02-28|title=Thomas Whitcombe Biography at ArtNet]He exhibited at the
Royal Academy fifty-six times between 1783 and 1824 and once each at theBritish Institution and theRoyal Society of British Artists . Many of his paintings are today in the collection of theNational Maritime Museum ,Greenwich , and in other important naval collections around the world.Bibliography
*"A Dictionary of British Marine Painters", Arnold Wlison, A & C Black Publishers Ltd, 1970, ISBN 0853170517
*"A Dictionary of British Landscape Painters", M H Grant, Leigh-on-sea, 1952
*"The Dictionary of 18th Century British Painters",Ellis Waterhouse , published by Antique Collectors' Club Ltd, 1981, ISBN 0902028936
*"British 19th Century Marine Painting", Denys Brook-Hart, published by Antique Collectors' Club Ltd, 1974, ISBN 0902028324External links
* [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/prints/listPrints.cfm?term=whitcombe&field=&filter=makers&node=9333 Thomas Whitcombe paintings at the National Maritime Museum]
* [http://www.bergercollection.org/artist_detail.php?i=72 Thomas Whitcombe Biography at the Berger Collection]References
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