If
I think I can learn something that will
help me in the development of my skills as a painter, I will
replicate a painting by another artist, In this case a George Chambers
painting.
CHAMBERS, GEORGE (1803-1840),
English marine painter, born at
Whitby, Yorkshire, was the son of a seaman, and for several years he
pursued his fathers calling. While at sea he was in the habit of sketching
the different classes of vessels. His master, observing this, gratified
him by canceling his indentures, and thus set him free to follow his
natural bent. Chambers then apprenticed himself to an old woman who kept a
painters shop in Whitby, and began by house-painting. He also took lessons
of a drawing-master, and found a ready sale for small and cheap pictures
of shipping. Coming afterwards to London, he was employed by Thomas Homer
to assist in painting the great panorama of London for the Colosseum (the
exhibition building in Regents Park, demolished towards I 86o), and he
next became scene-painter at the Pavilion theatre. In 1834 he was elected
an associate, and in 1836 a full member, of the Water-color Society. His
best works represent naval battles. Two of these the Bombardment of
Algiers in 1816, and the Capture of Porto Bello are in Greenwich hospital.
Not long before his death he was introduced to William IV., and his
professional prospects brightened; but his constitution, always frail,
gave way, and he died on the 28th of October 1840.
A Life, by John Watkins, was published in 1841.
