'A Coming Storm'
Oil on canvas: 20 x 30 in. Framed size 29 x 39in. Signed, dated 1887, titled verso
PRICE GUIDE £6,000-10,000

Biography

Surprisingly little is known about this 19th Century painter's life and his work is probably better-known and appreciated among current day collectors than in his own lifetime.

James had a great talent for painting 'lonely' seascapes, favouring isolated vessels in large expanses of water. Shipping and coastal views are usually of secondary importance in his compositions. His use of pure greys, silvers and blues was unusual among the greens and ambers of the 19th Century. He exhibited 4 works at The Royal Academy from 1886 to 1897 from an address in Dalston, Cumberland. His favoured locations were the West Country and the Isles of Scilly. The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, has a large, fine example of Breakers dated 1898 in its collection.

Museums: The National Maritime Museum; Beverly Art Gallery; Williamson Art Gallery; Russell Cotes Museum & Art Gallery; Felixstowe Town Council; Shipley Art Gallery; Low Parks Museum; Manchester City Art Gallery; Northampton Central Museum; Norwich Castle Museum; Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery; Rossendale Museum; Sheffield City Art Gallery; Royal Cornwall Museum.

Bibl.: British 19th Century Marine Painting – D. Brook-Hart
Dictionary of Seascape Painters – E. H. H Archibald
British Painters of the Coast and Sea – C. Hemming

This is a most unusual earlier work by James showing his great powers of observation not only for sea and sky but also the shipping. His paintings always have a great feeling of atmosphere created by his very clever use of the lighting conditions.