John Thomas Serres
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Serres was an English maritime painter who enjoyed significant success, including exhibiting extensively at the Royal Academy
, and was for a time Maritime Painter to King George III
.
in December 1759 to Dominic Serres
, a prominent painter and a founder of the Royal Academy
. Instructed by his father, John was involved in the publication of the maritime painter's guide Liber Nauticus and the younger Serres had soon developed a successful independent painting career, the Royal Academy and British Institution
exhibiting over 100 of his paintings over his lifetime. He also became Master of Drawing at the Royal Naval College
in Chelsea
and in 1793 was made Marine Painter to the King after his father's death.
Serres' successful career was badly damaged in the early 19th century by the activities of his wife Olivia Serres
, who came to believe that she was the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Cumberland and publicly pressed her "claim" to his estate, insisting on being addressed as "Princess Olive of Cumberland". Consequently out of favour at court, Serres was forced to attempt to recoup his losses by investing in the theatre, setting up the Royal Coburg Theatre in 1818 that eventually became known as the "Old Vic". However his wife's activities again ruined him and he died in December 1825 in a London debtor's prison.
His daughter Lavinia Ryves
spent most of her life continuing to unsuccessfully press her mother's "claim" on the estate of King George III
, even managing to take it to the House of Lords
.
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, and was for a time Maritime Painter to King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
.
Life
John Thomas Serres was born in LondonLondon
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...
in December 1759 to 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...
, a prominent painter and a founder of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. Instructed by his father, John was involved in the publication of the maritime painter's guide Liber Nauticus and the younger Serres had soon developed a successful independent painting career, the Royal Academy and British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
exhibiting over 100 of his paintings over his lifetime. He also became Master of Drawing at the Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College may refer to:* Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth , renamed the Royal Naval College in 1806* Royal Naval College, Greenwich * Royal Naval College, Osborne...
in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
and in 1793 was made Marine Painter to the King after his father's death.
Serres' successful career was badly damaged in the early 19th century by the activities of his wife Olivia Serres
Olivia Serres
Olivia Serres , known as Olive, was a British painter and writer. She is also known as an English impostor, who claimed the title of Princess Olive of Cumberland, born at Warwick.-Origins and Early Career:...
, who came to believe that she was the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Cumberland and publicly pressed her "claim" to his estate, insisting on being addressed as "Princess Olive of Cumberland". Consequently out of favour at court, Serres was forced to attempt to recoup his losses by investing in the theatre, setting up the Royal Coburg Theatre in 1818 that eventually became known as the "Old Vic". However his wife's activities again ruined him and he died in December 1825 in a London debtor's prison.
His daughter Lavinia Ryves
Lavinia Ryves
Lavinia Jannetta Horton Ryves, née Lavinia Serres , was a British woman claiming to be a member of the British royal family, calling herself "Princess Lavinia of Cumberland"....
spent most of her life continuing to unsuccessfully press her mother's "claim" on the estate of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, even managing to take it to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
Further reading
- Hargraves, Matthew. Great British watercolors: from the Paul Mellon collection at the Yale (Yale University Press, 2007) p. 32 ff.
External links
- J T Serres online (ArtCyclopedia)