Peter Monamy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Monamy
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Peter Monamy, by Thomas Stubley, c 1730
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London 1681
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| Died | 7 February 1749 (aged 68) London
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| Movement | Maritime painting |
Peter Monamy was an English marine painter. He lived from 1681 to 1749. He was known for his amazing paintings of ships and the sea.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Peter Monamy was born in London, England. He was baptized on January 12, 1681. His family name, Monamy, suggests he might have had French roots. His grandfather, André Monamy, was a leader in Guernsey during the 1650s. Peter's mother, Dorothy Gilbert, came from a family of gunmakers in London.
When Peter was 15, in 1696, he began an apprenticeship. He trained for seven years with William Clark. Clark was a "Painter-Stainer," which meant he did many kinds of painting. This included decorating houses, painting murals, and making signs for shops.
Peter finished his training in 1704. On the same day, James Thornhill also finished his apprenticeship. Thornhill later became a famous English painter. He even decorated the Painted Hall at the Greenwich Naval Hospital.
It is believed that Peter Monamy took over William Clark's business after Clark died. He opened his own shop on London Bridge. He would display his paintings in the window. People, especially sailors, loved to stop and look at his detailed sea scenes.
Family and Homes
Peter Monamy married Margaret, and they had a daughter named Margaret in 1706. Sadly, both his first wife and their baby daughter passed away shortly after.
In 1707, Peter married Hannah Christopher. They had three children: Andrew, Hannah, and another Andrew. All three of these children likely died when they were very young. In 1720, Peter and Hannah had another son named Robert. We do not have much information about what happened to him.
Peter and Hannah moved several times in London. They lived near London Bridge, then in Red Lion Street, and later in the Minories. From 1723 to 1729, they lived in Fish Yard, near the Houses of Parliament. Their daughter, Anne, was born there in 1725.
It is thought that Peter might have spent some time in Cork, Ireland, or Plymouth, England. This is because some of his paintings show places in those areas. For example, he painted the Eddystone Lighthouse near Plymouth.
Becoming a Famous Marine Painter
In the early 1720s, Peter Monamy became a full-time studio painter in Westminster. This was a very successful time for him. In 1726, he gave a beautiful painting of ships to the Painter-Stainer's Company. This painting is still there today.
He also painted five large pictures for George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington. Byng was a very important naval leader. These paintings showed Byng's naval victories and are historically important. Monamy also continued to decorate houses. One of his marine paintings can still be seen above a fireplace in a London house.
Around the 1730s, it became harder for English artists. Many "Old Master" paintings from Italy and France were brought into England. This meant more competition for local painters like Monamy.
To help English artists, William Hogarth came up with an idea. He used Vauxhall Gardens, a popular London park, to show off English paintings. Monamy contributed at least four large naval scenes to the Gardens. These paintings showed important English naval victories. They were very popular and helped show off England's growing naval power.
Many prints and copies of Monamy's paintings were made. This helped spread his art to more people. These prints are a good way to see what his original paintings looked like.
Later Career and Legacy
In his later years, many of Monamy's paintings were linked to naval officers from the Durell family of Jersey and the de Sausmarez family of Guernsey. These families were important in the navy.
Monamy painted many versions of Admiral Vernon's capture of Porto Bello in 1740. This was a big naval victory for Britain. One of these paintings was even displayed at Vauxhall Gardens. The Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta visited the Gardens and specifically admired this painting.
Even as his financial situation became harder in his last few years, Monamy remained highly respected by sailors. George Vertue, a writer, said that Monamy understood ships very well. He also praised Monamy's neat and clean way of painting the sky and water. Sailors, officers, and merchants especially valued his work.
Monamy lived near the river in Westminster. This allowed him to study the water and sky. He also traveled to coasts and seaports to improve his art. He died in February 1749 and was buried in St Margaret's Church.
After his death, his studio items, paintings, and even his furniture were sold at an auction. His house was located near Westminster Abbey. Although he faced some financial difficulties at the very end of his life, his work was still highly valued.
Peter Monamy's daughters, Mary and Ann, continued the family's connection to art. Ann married an apothecary. Mary married Francis Swaine, who also became a respected marine painter. Their son, Monamy Swaine, followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps as a marine painter.
Monamy had a very wide range of paintings. He likely had a large studio with many assistants. It is possible that Charles Brooking and Francis Swaine worked with him. Swaine was even called "Old Swaine, pupil of Monamy."
Lasting Reputation
For many years after his death, Peter Monamy was called "famous." Even Horace Walpole, a well-known writer, praised him. Later art historians sometimes did not give him enough credit. However, in 1895, Julian Marshall wrote that Monamy was "reckoned the finest painter of shipping in England" after his apprenticeship.
Monamy faced competition from other marine painters during his career. These included artists like Isaac Sailmaker, Francis Place, and later Samuel Scott.
An anonymous obituary published in a London newspaper in 1749 showed how much Monamy was respected. It said that he was "greatly eminent for his Skill in Painting Sea Pieces." It also stated that his own paintings would be his "most lasting Monument."
