Peter Monamy Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1681 - d. 1749

(born 12 January 1681 London, England; died 1 February 1749 London, England) British painter. A prominent maritime painter of early 18th century Britain, Monamy originally trained as a house decorator, sign painter and gilder. He apprenticed with the Master of Painter-Stainers Company William Clark in 1696 before becoming a freeman in 1703. Although he was influenced by a variety of artists, his chief influence was the artist Willem van de Velde the younger. Self-taught, Monamy collected and copied many of his drawings and it was van de Velde that likely prompted Monamy to become a maritime painter. He painted actual ships but because his career took place during a rather peaceful period his works do not depict factual maritime battles. In 1726, Monamy was admitted to the Painter-Stainers Guild, maintaining his relationship with the company. In 1736 he was commissioned along with other painters to paint for the Vauxhall Gardens and in 1748 he presented a painting to the Foundling Hospital. Despite the fact that Monamy had a career that spanned over forty years and was relatively well known on London’s art scene, he never achieved great fame.