Richard Paton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Paton
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portrait by Gilbert Stuart
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| Born | 1717  London |
| Died | 7 March 1791 (aged 73–74) London |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Style | marine art |
Richard Paton (1717 – 7 March 1791) was a British artist. He was famous for painting scenes of the sea and naval battles.
Paton spent his life as an artist in London. It is believed he was born there, but there are no records of his exact birthplace or parents. He grew up without much money and learned to paint all by himself.
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How Paton Became an Artist
When Richard Paton was young, he was begging for money in London. An important person, Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, saw him. The Admiral liked Paton and offered to take him to sea.
Paton became an assistant to the ship's painter on Admiral Knowles's ship. This job helped him learn a lot about both painting and ships. In 1742, he started working at the Excise Office, which collected taxes.
Showing His Art
Richard Paton began showing his paintings to the public in 1758. His first exhibition was at the Society of Artists in London. He continued to show his work there until 1770.
Later, his paintings were also displayed at the famous Royal Academy between 1762 and 1780. These were important places for artists to get noticed.
What Paton Painted
Paton was best known for his marine and naval paintings. This means he painted pictures of the sea, ships, and battles at sea.
He painted scenes from wars happening during his lifetime, like the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) and the American Revolutionary War. He also painted older events, such as battles from the War of the Quadruple Alliance, which happened when he was a baby.
Dramatic Battle Scenes
Paton's battle paintings often showed exciting moments. He included dramatic effects like battles fought at night, cannons firing, and the impact of bombardments.
He also painted peaceful scenes, such as merchant ships floating calmly on the water. People especially admired how he painted the sky in his artworks. Prints of his paintings were made by other artists, like the French artist Pierre-Charles Canot, which helped make Paton's work well-known.
Famous Works
One of Paton's most famous paintings is Action Between the Serapis and Bonhomme Richard. This painting shows a real naval battle that happened on September 23, 1779. It was a fight between the British ship Serapis, led by Captain Sir Richard Pearson, and the American ship Bonhomme Richard, led by Captain John Paul Jones.
The Americans won this battle. Prints of Paton's painting were published soon after the battle, even while the war was still going on. Today, this painting can be seen at the museum of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.
