Ships in Rough Seas, James Wilson CARMICHAEL (1800 – 1868)

James Wilson CARMICHAEL (Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1800 – 1868 Scarborough) Ships in Rough Seas Signed and dated 1845 lower right Oil on canvas, 40 x 58 cm


THE ARTIST
James (also known as John) Wilson Carmichael was a renowned marine painter. He was born in Ouseburn, Newcastle, on June 9, 1800, the son of William Carmichael, a shipwright. A friend and pupil of T. M. Richardson Sr., he traveled to Holland, Italy, and the Baltic countries. He covered the Crimean War for the Illustrated London News. He exhibited primarily at the Northern Academy of Arts on Blacket Street in Newcastle, located right next to his studio, but also at the RA, the BI, and the SS. Examples of his work can be seen at the AGs in Greenwich, Newcastle, Gateshead, and Sunderland. He went to sea at a very young age, and after completing his apprenticeship in shipbuilding, he devoted all his free time to art, which he eventually pursued professionally. He lived in Newcastle during its reconstruction and became friends with the architect John Dobson, with whom he collaborated on several projects, notably the plans for the Central Station and Grainger Market, which were designed by Dobson and painted by Carmichael. He also collaborated with John Blackmore to produce an illustrated book, *Views on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway*, in 1836. In 1845, he moved to London and published *The Art of Marine Painting in Water-Colours* in 1859, followed by *The Art of Marine Painting in Oil Colours* in 1864. Toward the end of his life, Carmichael settled in Scarborough, where he died in 1868. A portrait of J.W. Carmichael is on display at the South Shields Museum and Gallery, and some of his works are held at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle and the Sunderland Museum. He lived in London for a while, but retired to Scarborough for health reasons, where he passed away.


THE WORK
Our painting was likely painted in London, where the artist settled in 1845. The work is admirable and delicate, it belongs to the select circle of James Carmichael’s finest works; for example, among many others, we may cite two works painted in 1845 and 184? : Carmichael, Shipping off Kronberg Castle, Denmark (1845), signed and dated lower right, panel, 44.8 x 60.6 cm, Bonhams, London, April 24, 2024, lot 51; Carmichael, Ships-of-War caught in a riptide off Leith with Edinburgh beyond, signed and dated 184? lower right, canvas, 66.8 x 101.9 cm, Bonhams, London, April 30, 2025, lot 70.