Richard Henry Nibbs
Encyclopedia
Richard Henry Nibbs was an English painter and book illustrator who specialised in marine art
.
Nibbs was born in Brighton
, Sussex
(now East Sussex
), England and educated at a school in Worthing (run by the father of watercolourist Henry Tidey). He lived in Brighton throughout his life. Nibbs initially trained as a musician and became a professional cellist with the Theatre Royal orchestra
. However, a life-long love of art combined with a natural talent for detailed observation led him to become a self-taught painter - in both oils and watercolour - particularly of marine subjects. In 1840 a substantial inheritance allowed him to devote himself full-time to art.
His marine art depicts scenes mainly off the coast of his native Sussex, France and Holland - though he also drew buildings and landscapes. He exhibited at the Royal Academy
and other institutions.
Paintings:
Illustrated books:
Marine art
Marine art or maritime art is any form of figurative art that portrays or draws its main inspiration from the sea. Maritime painting is a genre that depicts ships and the sea—a genre particularly strong from the 17th to 19th centuries...
.
Nibbs was born in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
(now East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
), England and educated at a school in Worthing (run by the father of watercolourist Henry Tidey). He lived in Brighton throughout his life. Nibbs initially trained as a musician and became a professional cellist with the Theatre Royal orchestra
Theatre Royal, Brighton
The Theatre Royal, Brighton is a theatre in Brighton, England, United Kingdom presenting a range of West End and touring musicals and plays, along with performances of opera and ballet and a Christmas pantomime.-History:...
. However, a life-long love of art combined with a natural talent for detailed observation led him to become a self-taught painter - in both oils and watercolour - particularly of marine subjects. In 1840 a substantial inheritance allowed him to devote himself full-time to art.
His marine art depicts scenes mainly off the coast of his native Sussex, France and Holland - though he also drew buildings and landscapes. He exhibited at 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...
and other institutions.
Works (selected)
- Low Water: Newhaven Harbour, Sussex .
- HMS Vengeance at Spithead (1851).
- Queen Victoria landing at the Chain Pier, Brighton (1843).
- Brighton promenade, 1850.
- Shipping on the Thames.
- Shoreham.
- Philadelphia Harbour.
Illustrated books:
- Lower, Mark Anthony. The Churches of Sussex: With Historical and Archaeological Descriptions (1872)
- Nibbs, R. H. Antiquities of Sussex (1872)
External links
- Paintings by R. H. Nibbs (www.1st-art-gallery.com)
- Illustrations by Nibbs (Ash Rare books)
- R H Nibbs (Biog)
- Profiles of notable Nibbs (Roots Web)
- R H Nibbs catalogue (Brighton & Hove museums)