View on the Thames at Deptford Dockyard

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Ministry of Defence, other locations

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

England, Deptford, River Thames, London, Deptford: Royal Dockyard

Subjects

rowing boat, topography, townscape/cityscape, river, man, ensign (ship), flag, dock, barge/canal boat, ship

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

John Thomas Serres (1759 - 1825)

Title

View on the Thames at Deptford Dockyard

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 79.00 cm, width: 134.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Frank T Sabin, June 1959

Provenance

With Frank T. Sabin, London; from whom purchased by the Ministry of Works in June 1959

GAC number

4937