Charles Brooking
Encyclopedia
Charles Brooking was an English painter of marine scenes.
It is highly probable that Brooking’s father was a Charles Brooking (1677-1738) who was recorded as employed by Greenwich Hospital (London) between 1729 and 1736 as a painter and decorator. Charles Brooking senior had earlier been active in Plymouth
and Ireland
. On 27 November 1732 "Master Charles Brooking" was recorded as an apprentice, one of two taken on by Brooking senior on that date. Brooking junior is sometimes described as “self-taught”, but he was less self-taught than some other English painters, such as, for instance, William Hogarth
, about whom the phrase is never used.
An anecdote related by Dominic Serres
about Brooking is that he worked for a picture dealer in Leicester Square
, London
, who exploited him until his “discovery” by the Treasurer of the Foundling Hospital
, Taylor White, in London.
Brooking became much more widely known in 1754, when as a result of his “discovery” he was commissioned by the Foundling Hospital
to paint what is now titled A Flagship Before the Wind Under Easy Sail, following which he was elected a Governor and Guardian of the institution. This painting is a huge sea piece intended to "match" another painting, whereabouts unknown, said to be of a “Fleet in the Downs”, by Peter Monamy
.
It is claimed that marine artist Dominic Serres
received some instruction for a short time from Brooking. It has also been suggested that Francis Swaine
was another pupil, but the age difference between the two painters was a mere two years, and there is no visual evidence that Swaine followed Brooking’s manner.
Brooking is said to have died of consumption on 25 March 1759, reportedly leaving his family destitute.
(c.1710–76), he had evidently been producing work for at least 12 years before that date. The mention by Ellis occurs in his Natural History of the Corallines, published in London, 1755. It is arguable that since Ellis only employed him as a botanical draughtsman, he did not fully recognize him as “celebrated” until after 1754. Nevertheless, a good example of earlier work by Brooking is his painting of an engagement between Commodore Walker and a fleet of French ships which occurred on 23rd May, 1745, and which was already engraved and published by Boydell in 1753. This painting is now in the Greenwich Maritime Museum.
Except for paintings such as this, which record specific historical events, Brooking’s early works are not easy to date more precisely, other than stylistically and by theme, and have not yet been closely examined for their chronological development. His first two pictures can reasonably be said to show some influence of Peter Monamy
, but he was already displaying strong signs of a distinctive personal manner. He soon drew away from the native traditions of the marine genre, which included formal ship portraiture, although there are at least two works signed by him, one now in the Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which portray a ship in this convention. There is also a group of paintings and prints, signed or inscribed "Monamy" and datable to the years circa 1745-1750, but whose style is more consistent with Brooking’s. Some of the identical prints occur with attributions by different print dealers to both painters in separate issues.
Brooking’s accuracy and exceptionally careful attention to detail manifests his intimate knowledge of maritime practice and naval architecture, as well as his remarkably close observation of the ocean conditions of wave and wind. Contemporary accounts suggest that he had been “much at sea” and he certainly owned a small yacht. In his early years he was evidently employed in some maritime capacity, possibly in a pilot boat at Gravesend. Some of his presumed later works plainly show the influence of Willem van de Velde the Younger
.
Today, the National Maritime Museum
in Greenwich
, London holds 23 of his oil paintings, all 28 engravings after his works, and 4 drawings bequeathed by the U.S. President, J.F.Kennedy. A plaque to Brooking was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of the City of London at Tokenhouse Yard in October, 2008.
Life
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. On 27 November 1732 "Master Charles Brooking" was recorded as an apprentice, one of two taken on by Brooking senior on that date. Brooking junior is sometimes described as “self-taught”, but he was less self-taught than some other English painters, such as, for instance, William Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
, about whom the phrase is never used.
An anecdote related by Dominic Serres
Dominic Serres
Dominic Serres , also known as Dominic Serres the Elder, was a French-born painter strongly associated with the English school of painting, and with paintings with a naval or marine theme...
about Brooking is that he worked for a picture dealer in Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, who exploited him until his “discovery” by the Treasurer of the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
, Taylor White, in London.
Brooking became much more widely known in 1754, when as a result of his “discovery” he was commissioned by the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
to paint what is now titled A Flagship Before the Wind Under Easy Sail, following which he was elected a Governor and Guardian of the institution. This painting is a huge sea piece intended to "match" another painting, whereabouts unknown, said to be of a “Fleet in the Downs”, by Peter Monamy
Peter Monamy
Peter Monamy was an English marine painter who lived between 1681 and 1749.-Early life and family:Peter Monamy was baptised at the church of St Botolph’s-without-Aldgate, London, England, on 12 January 1681...
.
It is claimed that marine artist Dominic Serres
Dominic Serres
Dominic Serres , also known as Dominic Serres the Elder, was a French-born painter strongly associated with the English school of painting, and with paintings with a naval or marine theme...
received some instruction for a short time from Brooking. It has also been suggested that Francis Swaine
Francis Swaine
Francis Swaine was an English marine painter.He was born in 1725, and christened on 7 October of that year at St Dunstan’s, Stepney, London. For many years, and in many reference books, it has been stated that as a young man he worked as an office messenger with the British Navy, but then left...
was another pupil, but the age difference between the two painters was a mere two years, and there is no visual evidence that Swaine followed Brooking’s manner.
Brooking is said to have died of consumption on 25 March 1759, reportedly leaving his family destitute.
Work
It has rather strangely been said that most of his paintings date from the last six years of his life, from 1753 to 1759. However, his earliest known works are two pictures depicting a burning ship and a harbour scene by moonlight which he signed, inscribed with his age, 17, and thus datable to 1740. Since he was apparently already thought of as a "celebrated painter of sea-pieces" by 1752, when he worked for John EllisJohn Ellis
-Politics:* Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Mid Surrey 1884–1885, Kingston 1885–1892* John Ellis , Irish Fianna Fáil politician...
(c.1710–76), he had evidently been producing work for at least 12 years before that date. The mention by Ellis occurs in his Natural History of the Corallines, published in London, 1755. It is arguable that since Ellis only employed him as a botanical draughtsman, he did not fully recognize him as “celebrated” until after 1754. Nevertheless, a good example of earlier work by Brooking is his painting of an engagement between Commodore Walker and a fleet of French ships which occurred on 23rd May, 1745, and which was already engraved and published by Boydell in 1753. This painting is now in the Greenwich Maritime Museum.
Except for paintings such as this, which record specific historical events, Brooking’s early works are not easy to date more precisely, other than stylistically and by theme, and have not yet been closely examined for their chronological development. His first two pictures can reasonably be said to show some influence of Peter Monamy
Peter Monamy
Peter Monamy was an English marine painter who lived between 1681 and 1749.-Early life and family:Peter Monamy was baptised at the church of St Botolph’s-without-Aldgate, London, England, on 12 January 1681...
, but he was already displaying strong signs of a distinctive personal manner. He soon drew away from the native traditions of the marine genre, which included formal ship portraiture, although there are at least two works signed by him, one now in the Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which portray a ship in this convention. There is also a group of paintings and prints, signed or inscribed "Monamy" and datable to the years circa 1745-1750, but whose style is more consistent with Brooking’s. Some of the identical prints occur with attributions by different print dealers to both painters in separate issues.
Brooking’s accuracy and exceptionally careful attention to detail manifests his intimate knowledge of maritime practice and naval architecture, as well as his remarkably close observation of the ocean conditions of wave and wind. Contemporary accounts suggest that he had been “much at sea” and he certainly owned a small yacht. In his early years he was evidently employed in some maritime capacity, possibly in a pilot boat at Gravesend. Some of his presumed later works plainly show the influence of Willem van de Velde the Younger
Willem van de Velde the Younger
Willem van de Velde the Younger was a Dutch marine painter.-Biography:Willem van de Velde was baptised on 18 December 1633 in Leiden, Holland, Dutch Republic....
.
Today, the National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, London holds 23 of his oil paintings, all 28 engravings after his works, and 4 drawings bequeathed by the U.S. President, J.F.Kennedy. A plaque to Brooking was unveiled by the Lord Mayor of the City of London at Tokenhouse Yard in October, 2008.
External links
- Charles Brooking online (ArtCyclopedia)
- The call of the sea (Exhibition of Brooking's work at the at the St. Barbe Museum and Art Gallery, LymingtonLymingtonLymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
- review by Andrew Graham Dixon) - Brooking at the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, London)
- Brooking at the Tate (paintings on display at London's Tate GalleryTate GalleryThe Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
) - A Royal Yacht Firing a Salute (painting)
- Shipping in a Calm (painting)