Aquatints after Dominic Serres
Four aquatints del. J Carke & J. Humble with colour by a contempory hand taken from Liber Nauticus and Instructor in the Art of Marine Drawing by Dominic Serres and his son John Thomas Serres; Published & Sold Jan 1st 1807 by Edwd Orme, 59 Bond Street London.
No.29. A Lugger with a view of the Eddistone Light House.
No.30. A Bermudian Sloop, with a view upon the Spanish Main.
No.37. A Tartan with a view of Europa Point, Gibraltar.
No.38. A Polacca with a view of Stromboli.
All within good replicas of correct 18th century print frames, ebonized and with a gilt sight edge.
framed dimensions: 19 1/2 ins x 13 7/8 ins
Born sometime around 1720 in Gascony, France, Dominque Serres was initially a merchant seaman in the Mediterranean living in Italy. He later became a merchant captain in Cuba living in Havana as a merchant.
In 1748 the course of his life was radically changed when he was captured by the British in the Caribbean to be later imprisoned in the Marshalsea prison. It was here that he learned painting and on his release lived for a time in Northamptonshire making his living as a marine painter, much of his output being copies of works by the popular marine artist, Willem van de Velde the Elder.
On moving to London he became a regular exhibitor at the Society of Artists of Great Britain, and went on to exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1768, being elected a founder member. In 1780 he was appointed Marine Painter to King George III.
With his wife Mary (nee Colldycutt) he had six children, four girls, two boys; both sons becoming artists. The eldest son, John Thomas, initially worked with his father going on to become a prolific marine artist in his own right, whilst Dominique Michael specialised in landscapes.
