William Henry Williamson (1820–1883) ‘cliffs In A Storm’ Signed And Dated ‘w.h. Williamson 1873

The work, dated 1873, represents the full maturity of Williamson’s style. The scene is characterised by an expressive power that suggests a setting typical of the Channel coast or Cornwall, areas famous for their rugged coastlines and impetuous ocean currents. Set in a contemporary 19th-century ebonised frame. External dimensions approx. 64x76 cm.

Biographical Profile of the Artist

William Henry Williamson was one of the most significant practitioners of marine painting in mid-19th-century Britain. Working mainly in London, he exhibited regularly at the most prestigious venues of the time, including the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists (Suffolk Street).

Born into a family of artists, Williamson distinguished himself through his meticulous technique and profound knowledge of nautical meteorology. His career coincided with the height of the Victorian era, a period in which the British public harboured a patriotic and romantic fascination with the sea. His works are now held in numerous public collections across the United Kingdom, such as the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and various civic galleries (Manchester, Sunderland), bearing witness to his significance in the history of English maritime art.

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