Thomas Danby (artist)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Danby was an English landscape painter.
Danby was born, it is thought, in Bristol
in south-west England, the younger son of Francis Danby
(1793-1861). He had an elder brother, James Francis Danby
(1816-75) who also became a landscape painter. Thomas went with his father to Europe in 1829, living for a time in Paris
where he was able to earn a living by copying pictures at the Louvre
in Paris. He thus became an earnest admireer and "student" of Claude Lorrain
, whose aerial effects he sought to imitate.
Returning to England about the same time as his father, he first exhibited at the British Institution
in 1841, and afterwards frequently at the Royal Academy
from 1843. He was a friend of Paul Falconer Poole
, with whom he shared a house in Hampstead
in 1843, and imbibed not a little of his romantic feeling for nature. From 1855 to his death, Danby resided in or near Hampstead in north London..
The subjects of his landscapes were usually taken from Welsh
scenery, especially the old county of Merioneth; his pictures for the most part were not ideal compositions (unlike his father's work) but actual scenes pervaded with a true romantic spirit. "He was always trying" says the writer of his obituary in The Times
newspaper, "to render his inner heart's feeling of a beautiful view rather than the local facts received on the retina."
He came, it is said, within one vote of election as an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) but, failing eventually to attain Academy honours, he devoted himself in his latter years chiefly to watercolour painting. He became a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy
in 1860, an associate of the Society of Painters in Watercolours in 1867, and a full member of the latter in 1870; until his death his contributions were prominent amongst the works at the society's exhibitions.
Danby died of a chest complaint, terminating in dropsy on 25 March 1886. He had been twice married, and had 2 daughters and a son from the second marriage.
His remaining works, some 200 watercolours and an equal number of oil paintings, were sold at Christie's
in London on the 17-18 June 1886.
Danby was born, it is thought, in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in south-west England, the younger son of Francis Danby
Francis Danby
Francis Danby was an Irish painter of the Romantic era. His imaginative, dramatic landscapes were comparable to those of John Martin. Danby initially developed his imaginative style while he was the central figure in a group of artists who have come to be known as the Bristol School...
(1793-1861). He had an elder brother, James Francis Danby
James Francis Danby
James Francis Danby, an English landscape painter, the son of Francis Danby, A.R.A., was born at Bristol in 1816. His works appeared at the Royal Academy, and at the Society of British Artists, of which latter he was a member. He died of apoplexy in London in 1875. He excelled in depicting sunrise...
(1816-75) who also became a landscape painter. Thomas went with his father to Europe in 1829, living for a time in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he was able to earn a living by copying pictures at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
in Paris. He thus became an earnest admireer and "student" of Claude Lorrain
Claude Lorrain
Claude Lorrain, , traditionally just Claude in English Claude Lorrain, , traditionally just Claude in English (also Claude Gellée, his real name, or in French Claude Gellée, , dit le Lorrain) Claude Lorrain, , traditionally just Claude in English (also Claude Gellée, his real name, or in French...
, whose aerial effects he sought to imitate.
Returning to England about the same time as his father, he first exhibited at the 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...
in 1841, and afterwards frequently 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...
from 1843. He was a friend of Paul Falconer Poole
Paul Falconer Poole
Paul Falconer Poole was an English subject and genre painter born in Bristol.-Life and work:Though self-taught his fine feeling for colour, poetic sympathy and dramatic power gained for him a high position among British artists. He exhibited his first work in the Royal Academy at the age of...
, with whom he shared a house in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
in 1843, and imbibed not a little of his romantic feeling for nature. From 1855 to his death, Danby resided in or near Hampstead in north London..
The subjects of his landscapes were usually taken from Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
scenery, especially the old county of Merioneth; his pictures for the most part were not ideal compositions (unlike his father's work) but actual scenes pervaded with a true romantic spirit. "He was always trying" says the writer of his obituary in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper, "to render his inner heart's feeling of a beautiful view rather than the local facts received on the retina."
He came, it is said, within one vote of election as an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) but, failing eventually to attain Academy honours, he devoted himself in his latter years chiefly to watercolour painting. He became a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
in 1860, an associate of the Society of Painters in Watercolours in 1867, and a full member of the latter in 1870; until his death his contributions were prominent amongst the works at the society's exhibitions.
Danby died of a chest complaint, terminating in dropsy on 25 March 1886. He had been twice married, and had 2 daughters and a son from the second marriage.
His remaining works, some 200 watercolours and an equal number of oil paintings, were sold at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
in London on the 17-18 June 1886.
External links
- Thomas Danby on ArtNet
- Cattle watering at a river (watercolour - Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
)