George Balmer
Encyclopedia
George Balmer was an English landscape and marine painter and illustrator
.
, Northumberland
, the son of a house painter, and initially followed his father's trade. But he eventually took up art, coming under the influence of the work of John Wilson Ewbank (c. 1779-1847). His earliest works were exhibited in Newcastle
and attracted attention; he followed up this initial success with a large picture called "A View of the Port of Tyne". In 1831 he exhibited some watercolour paintings, again in Newcastle, of which one, "The Juicy Tree bit", was thought the best in the rooms. In conjunction with J W Carmichael
he painted "The Heroic Exploit of Admiral Collingwood at Trafalgar".
In 1832 or 1833 he made a tour of the continent, travelling by way of Holland to the Rhine and Switzerland
, and returning by way of Paris
where he stayed for several months engaged in copying from the works of the masters in The Louvre. Returning to England, he settled in London
, exhibiting pictures of the Rhine, coast scenes, and moonlight views - a large "View of Bingen" and one of "Haarlem Mere", being amongst the best.
In 1836, in the employ of William Finden
, Balmner began a publication called "The Ports and Harbours of England". Although he produced many drawings for the book, it was never realised to the full extent that he had originally envisaged. He retired from London in 1842, and gave up painting. He died near Ravensworth
, in Durham on the 10th April 1846.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
.
Life and work
Balmer was born in North ShieldsNorth Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, the son of a house painter, and initially followed his father's trade. But he eventually took up art, coming under the influence of the work of John Wilson Ewbank (c. 1779-1847). His earliest works were exhibited in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and attracted attention; he followed up this initial success with a large picture called "A View of the Port of Tyne". In 1831 he exhibited some watercolour paintings, again in Newcastle, of which one, "The Juicy Tree bit", was thought the best in the rooms. In conjunction with J W Carmichael
John Wilson Carmichael
John Wilson Carmichael, a marine painter, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne about 1800. From constantly seeing so much shipping,he obtained at an early age great accuracy of drawing in this line of art, and among his earliest paintings produced a very fine picture, 'The Heroic Exploit of Admiral...
he painted "The Heroic Exploit of Admiral Collingwood at Trafalgar".
In 1832 or 1833 he made a tour of the continent, travelling by way of Holland to the Rhine and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and returning by way of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he stayed for several months engaged in copying from the works of the masters in The Louvre. Returning to England, he settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, exhibiting pictures of the Rhine, coast scenes, and moonlight views - a large "View of Bingen" and one of "Haarlem Mere", being amongst the best.
In 1836, in the employ of William Finden
William Finden
William Finden was an English line engraver.He served his apprenticeship to one James Mitan, but appears to have owed far more to the influence of James Heath, whose works he privately and earnestly studied...
, Balmner began a publication called "The Ports and Harbours of England". Although he produced many drawings for the book, it was never realised to the full extent that he had originally envisaged. He retired from London in 1842, and gave up painting. He died near Ravensworth
Ravensworth
Ravensworth is a small village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is approximately north-west of Richmond and from Darlington. It is situated in the Holmedale valley and is in the ward of Gilling West...
, in Durham on the 10th April 1846.
External links
- George Balmer on Artnet
- Sorting the day's catch (Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
)