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John Wilson CarmichaelBritish marine painter, watercolourist, illustrator
Date of Birth: 09.01.1800
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- John Wilson Carmichael: Renowned Marine Artist and Illustrator
- Artistic Apprenticeship
- Exhibition Success
- War Correspondent and Illustrator
- Artistic Legacy
- Later Life and Retirement
- Legacy and Recognition
John Wilson Carmichael: Renowned Marine Artist and Illustrator
Birth and Early LifeBorn in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, in 1800, John Wilson Carmichael was the son of a shipwright. His artistic talent emerged during his service as a midshipman in the Royal Navy during the Peninsular War.
Artistic Apprenticeship
In 1814, Carmichael returned to Newcastle and became an apprentice draftsman in the shipyards of the River Tyne. His exceptional drawing skills caught the attention of Thomas Miles Richardson (Sr.), a landscape painter who became his mentor and friend. Carmichael's shipyard experience provided him with an intimate knowledge of ships, which became a hallmark of his later work.
Exhibition Success
Carmichael exhibited his first paintings at the Northumberland Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in 1825. He moved to Brighton in 1840 and then to London, where his works were regularly displayed at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions from 1835 to 1859 and at the British Institution under Royal Patronage from 1846 to 1862.
War Correspondent and Illustrator
From 1854, Carmichael worked for "The Illustrated London News," becoming the first illustrated newspaper war correspondent. During the Crimean War, he accompanied the Royal Navy's campaigns in the Baltic Sea in 1854 and 1855. He witnessed the Anglo-French bombardment of the Russian fortress of Sveaborg in August 1855, depicting it in a painting now housed at the National Maritime Museum in London.
Artistic Legacy
Carmichael's artistic talents extended beyond painting. He authored two books on the technique of marine painting, "The Art of Marine Painting in Water Colours" (1859) and "The Art of Marine Painting in Oil Colours" (1864).
Later Life and Retirement
Deeply affected by the untimely death of his son in 1862, Carmichael abandoned painting and moved to Scarborough, North Yorkshire, where he lived until his own passing in 1868.
Legacy and Recognition
Carmichael's "The Chase" became the first acquisition for the Royal Collection by Queen Elizabeth II after her accession to the throne. His detailed and atmospheric marine paintings continue to be admired for their technical virtuosity and evocative portrayal of the sea.
