Rule Britannia! When Charles John de Lacy was born, the Commonweath was spread all over the world under the leadership of Great Britain. The Victorian Age was marked by a feeling of superiority and awareness of its own importance. While the rest of Europe became embroiled in conflict, England concentrated on expanding its trading power. This power was based above all on the immense fleet that sailed the world's oceans and underpinned England's political and economic influence. The Navy was the pride of the nation. In 1856, when de Lacy was born in Sunderland in the North East of England, Queen Victoria had been on the throne for almost 20 years. Art was an issue in his family, as his father was a professor of music. In de Lacy's childhood, the family moved close to London. He became a painter, graphic artist and illustrator and found work in his former home country. There he made a name for himself with the representation of maritime subjects. Later he moved back to London, married and founded a family with two daughters. He became widely known with his pictures and graphics of navy and warships. The shipping company Armstrong-Whitworth was one of his most important employers. He was also supported by magazines ('The Illustrated London News'), for which he produced lithographs and engravings. He gave lessons at the National Gallery in London and had his first exhibition at the Royal Acadamie of Arts (1889). Charles John de Lacy died in Epsom in 1929.
Besides his graphic works he also created independent paintings in oil and watercolour. He preferred to depict maritime themes, mainly warships on the high seas, harbours and naval battles. He also illustrated books of maritime content. His depiction is often dramatic, moving and sometimes heroic. Stormy seas, impressive cloudy skies and contrasting light characterize his pictures, which soon became very popular. Some of his works thus also remind us of the even more famous William Turner, which was in effect one generation earlier.
Rule Britannia! When Charles John de Lacy was born, the Commonweath was spread all over the world under the leadership of Great Britain. The Victorian Age was marked by a feeling of superiority and awareness of its own importance. While the rest of Europe became embroiled in conflict, England concentrated on expanding its trading power. This power was based above all on the immense fleet that sailed the world's oceans and underpinned England's political and economic influence. The Navy was the pride of the nation. In 1856, when de Lacy was born in Sunderland in the North East of England, Queen Victoria had been on the throne for almost 20 years. Art was an issue in his family, as his father was a professor of music. In de Lacy's childhood, the family moved close to London. He became a painter, graphic artist and illustrator and found work in his former home country. There he made a name for himself with the representation of maritime subjects. Later he moved back to London, married and founded a family with two daughters. He became widely known with his pictures and graphics of navy and warships. The shipping company Armstrong-Whitworth was one of his most important employers. He was also supported by magazines ('The Illustrated London News'), for which he produced lithographs and engravings. He gave lessons at the National Gallery in London and had his first exhibition at the Royal Acadamie of Arts (1889). Charles John de Lacy died in Epsom in 1929.
Besides his graphic works he also created independent paintings in oil and watercolour. He preferred to depict maritime themes, mainly warships on the high seas, harbours and naval battles. He also illustrated books of maritime content. His depiction is often dramatic, moving and sometimes heroic. Stormy seas, impressive cloudy skies and contrasting light characterize his pictures, which soon became very popular. Some of his works thus also remind us of the even more famous William Turner, which was in effect one generation earlier.
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