Images of the sea and the vessels and people who travel upon it are timeless and mesmerising in quality, though the styles of portrayal may change with the passing centuries the subject remains constant and eternal.
Seascape and marine art began to grow in popularity during the 15th and 16th centuries as a greater number of European countries began to put their ships to sea in search of foreign climes, generally these earlier works concentrated on the majesty of the naval fleet and reconstructions of dramatic battles as opposed to the sea itself.
Through the 18th and 19th centuries the focus gradually began to change from images of warships to an appreciation of the natural beauty of the ocean and the style began to move in the direction of seascape paintings that we recognize today. While the genre is as popular as ever, well known locations, particularly those featuring famous landmarks are always especially desirable and often serve as a reminder to collectors of time well spent by the sea.
Well known and notable artists producing seascape and marine art would include; Salomon van Ruysdael, Jan Porcellis, Thomas Buttersworth, Claude Joseph Vernet, Francesco Guardi, J. M. W. Turner, John Frederick Kensett, Fitz Hugh Lane, Montague Dawson and JAmes Batholomew.
Some of our artists creating Seascape and Marine Art include; Rebecca Lardner, Tom Butler, Duncan MacGregor, John Knapp-Fisher, Gary Walton, Chris and Steve Rocks, Philip Gray, Steven Townsend, Duncan Palmar, Michael Kidd and Donald Hamilton Fraser.
