William Thornley

19th century English marine seascape, with fishing boats in the North Sea

circa 1870

Edward Gentle (fl. late 19th century) Coming Out of Port Oil on artist’s board, signed lower right Circa 1870 A finely executed Victorian marine painting by the English maritime art...

William Thornley was a painter of coastal scenes whose work is very similar to Hubert and Charles Thornley, who may have been members of the same family. He painted scenes of genre, architecture and landscapes as well. A number of the landscapes were of Belgium, Holland, Italy and Norway. However, it is for his seascapes that he is best remembered. Thornley’s works are beautifully detailed and show a masterful understanding of the moods of both weather and sea. They are often small in size and put together with fine detail and great artistic merit. Thornley’s fishing scenes are spirited and similar in style to those of “Jock” Wilson, and are often painted in pairs. Thornley’s works have always been popular when they appear on the art market. He was believed to have first exhibited marines at the Royal Academy in 1859 from an address in Paddington, London and also at the British Institution from 1861 until it closed in 1867. He continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1898. Thornley also exhibited at the Paris Salon and the Salon of French Artists, receiving an honourable mention in 1881 and a third place medal in 1888. William Thornley also went by the names Georges William and William...

George Gregory British, (1849-1938) Fishing Boats by the Coast Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1880 Image size: 11.25 inches x 17.25 inches Size including frame: 17.25 inches x 23...

19th Century Seascape with Small Craft in Choppy Seas, British or Dutch School, second half 19th Century, an oil on canvas stormy seascape with fishing luggers fighting rough seas of...