Thomas Luny

1759 – 1837

Shipping off Dover

Oil on canvas

Signed and dated 1777

34 x 50 inches canvas size

41 x 57 inches framed size

Born in London in 1759 and died in Teignmouth on September 29th 1837.

Luny was a pupil of Francis Holman, and indeed his early work is very close to that of his teacher except that Luny uses a slightly lighter, warmer palette. He first exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1777. Luny exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1780 – 1793 and in 1837 there was an exhibition of 130 paintings by Luny in Old Bond Street.

Luny kept an inventory of the pictures he painted with the title, the purchaser's name and the price. The first entries are in February 1807 and include views of London Bridge and of Blackfriars Bridge and in June two views of Teignmouth which, seems to suggest that he arrived there in the summer of 1807. He remained there to paint for the rest of his life.

Luny’s paintings can be seen at the City art gallery in Bristol, Exeter Art Gallery and at the National Maritime Museum, which holds 40 of his paintings.