Anthony Carey Stannus was skilled in capturing the excitement and energy of vessels at sea, and also adept at depicting buildings, landscapes and genre scenes, writes Peter Murray
While Anthony Carey Stannus’ portraits are standard Victorian fare, his marine paintings, particularly those in watercolour, are characterised by a delicate sense of colour and atmosphere. His depictions of Irish, Scottish and Cornish coastal scenes, with mist and rain softening the tints of sea and landscape, capture aspects of everyday life. Fishermen haul in nets, boats are drawn up on the sands and people gather seaweed. Painted en plein air and finished in the studio, his paintings are remarkable for their accurate observation of skies, rocks, clouds and rain. He used watercolour skilfully, to create atmospheric effects, with quiet waves lapping the seashore, rainclouds gathering and skies imperceptibly lightening towards the horizon. He often included ships seen from a distance, heightening the sense of isolation that characterises many of his marine views, particularly those that depict calm seas.
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