Early 19th Century Seascape by Thomas Buttersworth (English: 1768 – 1842), circa 1820,

Early 19th Century Seascape by Thomas Buttersworth (English: 1768 – 1842), circa 1820, an oil on canvas view of a ship, brig and small craft in the English Channel off the Cliffs of Dover, signed lower right. Brilliant crisp detail and expressive sea and clouds in Buttersworth’s classic style.

The painting is in terrific condition. It may have had a small amount of touch-up in two places in the sky, and has been re-lined. Mounted in a lovely old carved and gilded gallery frame, appropriate but not of the period.

Thomas Buttersworth (5 May 1768 – November 1842) was an English seaman of the Napoleonic wars period who became a marine painter. He produced works to commission, and was little exhibited during his lifetime.

Butterworth was born in 1768 on the Isle of Wight. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in London in 1795, and served on HMS Caroline during the wars with France, before being invalided home from Menorca in 1800.

The National Maritime Museum in London has 27 watercolors by him, several of which are mounted on sheets from 18th century printed signal and muster books. He went on to paint numerous naval battle scenes and pictures such as the ‘’Inshore Squadron off Cadiz in 1797’’ which are thought to show scenes he witnessed. On being appointed Marine Painter to the East India Company he painted ship portraits on commission.

It had been thought that he died in 1830, but recent research has found that he painted Queen Victoria’s visit to Edinburgh in 1842 before he died in London later that year.

His son James Edward Buttersworth (1817–1894) also became a noted maritime painter. Father and son are both regarded among the greatest marine artists.

Measures: 11 in H x 15-1/4 in W
Framed: 14-7/8 in H x 19-1/4 in W