Frederick Calvert (c.1780-1834) was an accomplished Irish painter, watercolourist and engraver of marine scenes and coastal views.
Born in Cork, Ireland, little is known about Calvert’s training but it would appear that, during the early part of his career, he worked primarily as a draughtsman and topographer. In 1807, his aquatint of Parliament Bridge in Cork was published, and five years later, he was shown at the Society of Artists in Dublin with 'View near Rathfarnham'. Following a move to England in 1815, he continued in this vein, publishing four drawings of 'The Interior of Tintern Abbey', and later, a series of lithographs titled 'The Forest Illustrated'.
Towards the end of the 1820s, we see the first recorded examples of his marine scenes, which could be an indication of changing tastes. During the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), epic tales of seaborne drama captured the imagination of the British public. This, in turn, influenced both literature and painting. It was an ideal subject for the Romantics as it dealt with the sublimity of nature, death and man’s ultimate helplessness amid the elements.
Artists specialising in this genre often looked back to the Dutch Masters, such as Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son, for inspiration. The Younger was a particular influence on British painters as he spent most of his working life here. When we compare Calvert’s ‘Shipping Off Dover’ with a work by Van De Velde The Younger, the similarities become evident.
From his studio in Pall Mall, London, Frederick Calvert established a credible reputation as an artist of merit, capturing views from across the country. Many of these feature coastal buildings, precisely rendered with a topographer’s attention to detail. His circle of acquaintances presumably included the artist Isaac Robert Cruickshank (1764-1811), as his daughter, Harriet, married Cruickshank’s son, Percy.
There’s some confusion surrounding his death as, despite being buried on the 9th of May 1834, several known works bear later dates. In addition, ‘Ramsgate Lighthouse and Harbour’ was shown at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1844. It’s conceivable that these were completed by a son.
He’s represented in numerous public collections, including at the British Museum, V&A Museum, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, and the Government Art Collection.
Exhibited
British Institution, Royal Society of British Artists.
Public Collections
British Museum, V&A Museum, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Government Art Collection, Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Laing Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Lancashire, National Maritime Museum, National Museum Cardiff, National Trust at Calke Abbey, Poole Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Victoria Art Gallery, Walker Art Gallery, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum.
Timeline
C.1780
Born in Cork, Ireland.
1807
His aquatint of Parliament Bridge in Cork was published.
1812
His 'View near Rathfarnham' was shown at the Society of Artists in Dublin.
1815
Debuted at the Hibernian Society.
Moved to England.
Published four drawings depicting 'The Interior of Tintern Abbey'.
Published a book, 'Lessons on Landscape Colouring, Shadowing and Pencilling'.
1822
Published a series of lithographs titled 'The Forest Illustrated'.
1827
Exhibited from his studio in Pall Mall.
Debuted at the British Institution with ‘Dover Castle, Kent’ and ‘Broughton Castle, Oxon’.
1830
Published 'Picturesque Views of Staffordshire and Shropshire' for the Archaeological Journal.
1833
Debuted at the Royal Society of British Artists with three marine scenes. Address recorded as Lambeth Road, London.
1834
Died in London.
1844
‘Ramsgate Lighthouse and Harbour’ shown at the Royal Society of British Artists posthumously.