Some of the previous biographies of marine painters published by the Antique Collectors’ Club have, perforce, had less to say about the artists than about their works, because so little biographical information had survived. Fortunately this is not true of Dominic Serres (1719?‐1793). His long life coincided with several wars in which the Royal Navy usually enjoyed success; this gave him the opportunity for numerous commissions, and in turn ensured that he was well remembered by his wide circle of friends. Ironically, he was a Frenchman who had apparently served in the Spanish Navy and originally arrived in England as a prisoner of war. He first came to prominence as a participant in the production of prints. The sequence was that sketches made on the scene of a battle, often by a naval officer, would be worked up into detailed paintings, and the latter would then be engraved, for sale either plain or coloured. Having gained a reputation in this way, Serres was then in a position to sell paintings of recent naval events directly to the public, and eventually obtained numerous commissions from high‐ranking officers who wished to commemorate their own victories (or in at least one case, an honourable defeat). Among his patrons, who were no doubt encouraged by his maritime background, which ensured the accuracy of the nautical details in his paintings, were such distinguished admirals as Rodney and Hawke. This feature of his work means that the book provides a good deal of the naval history which is necessary to understand the context of the paintings. However, the author points out that he was no narrow specialist, being able to paint convincing landscapes and even a competent portrait. In later life he became a founder member of the Royal Society ‐ the sole maritime artist to be so ‐ and then Marine Painter to King George III.
As one would expect from this publisher, the book is provided with numerous illustrations, well produced, at a good size and often in colour. It does not claim to list all Serres’ paintings, since it appears that like other marine artists of his day, he produced many of his earlier works anonymously. Although there is no bibliography, there are side‐notes to indicate sources, and a full index. Like its predecessors, the book can be confidently recommended to libraries with an interest in marine art or naval history.
