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Lot Essay
Like his father Dominic Serres, John Thomas Serres was an accomplished marine artist. He travelled extensively, spending time in Paris (1789), Rome and Naples (1790-91), succeeding his father as Marine Painter to King George III in 1793. In 1800 he was appointed Marine Draughtsman to the Admiralty, publishing Liber Nauticus, an Instructor in the Art of Marine Drawing under the co-authorship of his father in 1805.
The present work was exhibited at the inaugural exhibition of the British Institution in 1806.
Despite Serres' artistic success, his marriage to the eccentric and allegedly spendthrift landscape painter Olivia Wilmot led to his eventual financial ruin. He was imprisoned in Edinburgh for debt in 1818, hence the King's refusal to allow the artist to act as official draughtsman on the royal visit to Scotland in 1822. Despite this, Serres still produced a set of watercolours recording the event before dying in debtors' prison.
The Tower of Belém was conceived by King John II of Portugal (1481-1495) to defend the coastal approach to Lisbon, but was designed later by Francisco de Arruda (1514-1521), following a commission by King Manuel I (1495-1521). The construction of the tower marked an important development in military architecture, reflecting the need to use up-to-date firearms. Built as a fortress, the tower also served as a tribute to the merchants trading to and from Lisbon, a crucial and imposing landmark.
The present work was exhibited at the inaugural exhibition of the British Institution in 1806.
Despite Serres' artistic success, his marriage to the eccentric and allegedly spendthrift landscape painter Olivia Wilmot led to his eventual financial ruin. He was imprisoned in Edinburgh for debt in 1818, hence the King's refusal to allow the artist to act as official draughtsman on the royal visit to Scotland in 1822. Despite this, Serres still produced a set of watercolours recording the event before dying in debtors' prison.
The Tower of Belém was conceived by King John II of Portugal (1481-1495) to defend the coastal approach to Lisbon, but was designed later by Francisco de Arruda (1514-1521), following a commission by King Manuel I (1495-1521). The construction of the tower marked an important development in military architecture, reflecting the need to use up-to-date firearms. Built as a fortress, the tower also served as a tribute to the merchants trading to and from Lisbon, a crucial and imposing landmark.