Thames craft and other shipping off Gravesend

Location

Country: Israel
City: Tel Aviv
Place: British Embassy

John Thomas Serres was born in London, son of marine painter Dominic Serres the elder. On his father's death he succeeded him as Marine Painter to George III. In 1800, he was appointed Marine Draughtsman to the Admiralty and employed to draw the coasts of Britain, France, Spain and the Mediterranean. He also taught at Chelsea Naval School, painted battle scenes and published ‘Liber Nauticus’ (1805), with plates after his and his father’s drawings. In 1817, he became a proprietor of the Coburg Theatre and subsequently the scenic director. He married a pupil, Olivia Wilmot, who claimed to be the daughter of the Duke of Cumberland. Her behaviour ruined Serres, who lost favour in court. He died soon after his release from a debtor's prison.

Places

Subjects

fishing boat, rowing boat, fisherman, barrel, genre, seascape/coastal scene, evening, beach, basket, ship, anchor, fishing net

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

John Thomas Serres (1759 - 1825)

Title

Thames craft and other shipping off Gravesend

Date

1821

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 66.50 cm, width: 85.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Phillips and Rixson, February 1955

Inscription

bc: J.T.Serres 1821

GAC number

3158