Clarkson Stanfield RA (1793-1867). Landscape and marine painter in both oil and watercolour. Born in Sunderland. Merchant seaman and later served in the Royal Navy. Following an injury, discharged in 1818. Friend of Douglas Jerrold whom he met at sea and later worked with in the Drury Lane Theatre as scenery painter. Stanfield's work owes much to his early nautical experience. Friend of David Roberts (1796-1864) and Charles Dickens for whom he painted scenery for private theatricals. Produced moving dioramas used in Christmas pantomimes. Principal exhibitor in the Society of British Artists, founded in 1823. Exhibited at the British Institution 1827 and at the RA 1827-67. Elected ARA 1832 and RA in 1835. A leading follower of Bonnington in the late 1820s. Began series of paintings of Venice in 1830 for the banqueting room at Bowood for the Marquis of Lansdowne and at Trentham in 1834 for the Duchess of Sutherland. Made frequent visits to the continent travelling in Holland, France and Italy. Friend of Turner (see Stanfield and Turner).
Worked in a realistic mode with little conventionality or exaggeration. Famous for his coastal shipping and river scenes. Stanfield' s Coastal Scenery includes forty engravings of his pictures of the British Channel and French coast. Painted The Battle of Trafalgar for the United Services Club, 1863. The sale of the contents of his studio took place in 1868 at Christie's. Stanfield was also a friend of the Ruskin family. (see Ruskin and Stanfield).