The directory «Artists»

Swaine Monamy
(active 1769–1793)

English painter, whose father, Francis (circa 1720–80), was himself a successful and prolific marine painter, as was his maternal grandfather Peter Monamy (1681–1749), after whom he was named. It is likely that Monamy Swaine was taught by his father, whose influence is clearly detectable in his work. Despite this background, Monamy Swaine did not limit himself to seascapes, also producing still-life and genre scenes. The first documented record of him is at the 1769 exhibition of the Free Society of Artists, in which he is described as ‘Mr. Swaine Junior’, giving rise to scholarly speculation that he might have been born in the early 1750s. In 1771 and 1772 he exhibited two marine paintings at the Free Society of Artists. The National Maritime Museum, London, has four paintings by him. One is dated 1793 and a fifth, generally attributed to him, shows ‘Victory leaving the Channel’ flying Lord Hood’s flag in that year. Both instances suggest a rather longer working life than is often supposed.

Anguilla, 1981, HMS «Victory» leaving the Channel

Guinea, 1998, HMS «Victory» leaving the Channel

Paraguay, 1980, HMS «Victory» leaving the Channel