Thomas Whitcombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Whitcombe
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|---|---|
| Born | 1763? |
| Died | c. 1824? (Aged 61 or 60) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Marine art |
Thomas Whitcombe was a famous British artist who painted pictures of ships and the sea. He lived during a time when Britain was often at war, especially the Napoleonic Wars. He painted many important battles and scenes for the Royal Navy. His paintings are still very popular today!
Contents
Who Was Thomas Whitcombe?
Thomas Whitcombe was born in London around 1763. We don't know much about his early life or how he learned to paint. But we can guess some things from the places he painted in his artworks.
Where Did He Travel?
Thomas Whitcombe traveled a lot to find inspiration for his paintings.
- In 1787, he was in Bristol.
- Later, he visited many ports and harbors along the South Coast of England.
- In 1789, he explored Wales.
- Around 1813, he went to Devon and painted scenes around Plymouth harbor.
- He even painted places far away like the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, Madeira, Cuba, and Cape Horn at the tip of South America.
From 1783 to 1824, he lived in London. He had homes in areas like Covent Garden and Somers Town. We are not exactly sure when he passed away, but it was likely around 1824.
What Did He Paint?
Thomas Whitcombe was known for his amazing paintings of the sea. This type of art is called Marine art.
His Painting Style
Whitcombe painted many different types of sea scenes:
- He showed exciting naval battles.
- He painted detailed pictures of specific ships.
- He captured coastal views with ships sailing by.
- He also painted ships at sea during calm breezes and wild storms.
He was very good at showing the landscape in the background. He also made sure his ships looked exactly right. This is because he spent time in dockyards studying how ships were built. His paintings often have a dark area in the front, which was a popular style for British marine artists back then.
Thomas Whitcombe was one of the top marine painters during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. These were big conflicts where the British Royal Navy played a huge role.
He painted over 150 different battles and events involving the Royal Navy. He also created fifty pictures for a special book called The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. This book celebrated the Royal Navy's victories after the wars ended.
Where Can You See His Art?
Thomas Whitcombe showed his paintings at important art shows.
- He exhibited his work 56 times at the Royal Academy between 1783 and 1824.
- He also showed his art at the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists.
Today, many of his paintings are kept at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. You can also find his artworks in other important naval collections around the world.
