Peter Monamy, 1681‐1749, and His Circle

While Peter Monamy is recognised as the first great English marine painter, the author of this catalogue is quick to explain that he was not thereby the first great marine painter in England, for his predecessors in that position had been of Dutch nationality. Like many painters of the period, he often copied subjects from earlier artists, and did not always sign his works, which are numerous. To add to the confusion, it is pointed out that some elements of his style were adopted by his son‐in‐law Francis Swaine, and that there were several lesser‐known contemporary painters whose works (also...