Boats off Whitby
Henry Redmore was the son of a Hull house carpenter and engineer. He began his own career as a marine engineer, only starting to paint commercially at the age of about 28, a year after the death of John Ward (1798 - 1849), Hull's most renowned marine painter. Ten years later he was described as 'H. Redmore the celebrated marine artist of the town', following the display of his 50,000 square foot canvas of The glorious achievements of the British Navy commanded by the immortal Nelson'. Redmore's training as a marine engineer would have enhanced his understanding of the sea and ships, improving his ability to draw with accurate nautical detail. Yet he painted few ship portraits. As Boats off Whitby illustrates, Redmore's main interest was in creating a romantic atmosphere, whether painting groups of vessels on calm sunlit waters, or in his well known depictions of violent storm-tossed seas, craggy coasts and shipwrecks.
