Thomas Somerscales

Thomas Somerscales

Thomas Jacques Somerscales (born in Kingston upon Hull on 29 October 1842; died 27 June 1927) was an English marine painter. He is also considered a Chilean painter as he began his career there and many of his landscapes evoke the region.

Life and career

His father was a shipmaster, who sketched, and his uncle was an amateur painter. However he had no formal training as an artist and originally became a teacher in the Royal Navy. He also traveled around the Pacific and while teaching in Valparaíso he started working as a professional painter.^[1] By 1893 he was still referred to as a "little known artist" but had gained some praise.^[2]

His life's work has been detailed in the book: "Thomas Somerscales, Marine Artist" by Alex A. Hurst.

Selected paintings

• 
  Sinking of the Esmeralda at the Battle of Iquique
• 
  Naval Combat at Iquique
• 
  The Death of Arturo Prat Chacón on the Huascar
• 
  The Battle of Punta Gruesa
• 
  The Battle of Angamos

References

1. The Strand Magazine by George Newnes, pg 130
2. The Academy, pg 466