John O'Brien (marine artist)
Encyclopedia
John O'Brien was a Canadian
marine artist.
O'Brien is believed to have been born at sea as his Irish
family emigrated from County Cork
. He emerged as a self-taught artist in Halifax, Nova Scotia
in the 1850s. O'Brien excelled at ship portraits and dramatic storm scenes. His career flourished as Nova Scotia's shipping industry grew and among his many notable paintings include a portrait of the famous clipper Stag
. O'Brien studied with English landscape artist John W. Carmichael from 1857 to 1858. At the height of his career in 1859, he suffered a partial loss of vision. His career suffered in the 1870s, when he produced very few works, but revived in the 1880s.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
marine artist.
O'Brien is believed to have been born at sea as his Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
family emigrated from County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He emerged as a self-taught artist in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in the 1850s. O'Brien excelled at ship portraits and dramatic storm scenes. His career flourished as Nova Scotia's shipping industry grew and among his many notable paintings include a portrait of the famous clipper Stag
Stag (barque)
Stag was a barque built in Nova Scotia which was renowned for her speed. Designed by a pioneering Canadian naval architect named Ebenezer Mosley, Stag was built with a dramatic "Aberdeen bow"...
. O'Brien studied with English landscape artist John W. Carmichael from 1857 to 1858. At the height of his career in 1859, he suffered a partial loss of vision. His career suffered in the 1870s, when he produced very few works, but revived in the 1880s.