George Stainton British, (1838-1900)Fishing Vessels off a Harbour Early MorningOil on canvas, signedImage size: 23.25 inches x 35.25 inches Size including frame: 31 inches x 43 inchesA wonderful coastal marine painting of boats off a busy harbour at dawn by George Stainton. A large ship is depicted having weighed anchor and with sails unfurled as a supply boat arrives port side. In the foreground, a group of fishermen can be seen in a rowing boat waiting for their next catch. In the distance, lies a busy harbour, possibly Chatham Dockyard.George Stainton was a marine and landscape artist who was born in Aston, Birmingham in October 1838 to John Stainton and Ann Horton. By the age of 12, he was working as a paper mache painter and then later as a Japanner before becoming a full-time artist. He specialised in painting seascapes and river scenes in the style of Abraham Hulk and was influenced by the Dutch school.He exhibited at the Royal Society of Birmingham Artists from 1865 and also at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. He married Clara Adelaide Mason (n�e shears), a widow on 8 November, 1866 and together they lived in Addesley Street, Aston. The couple had 8 children and one of their sons Ernest Stainton became a lithographic artist. During the mid to late 1870�s he lived at Walnut Terrace in Kyrwicks Lane in the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham. However, by 1881, Stainton had moved to nearby Moseley Road where many Birmingham artists of the industrial period lived and also took up photography. Sometime during the late 1880�s early 1890�s, he made his final move to Pembroke Villa, 14 St Pauls Road, Moseley Road. He died at his home on 25 April, 1900.Whilst Stainton lived in Birmingham all his life, he travelled around the country painting coastal views of the Bristol Channel, Portsmouth and the Medway, as well as river scenes of the Thames, Tyne and Mersey. He also visited Scotland and Northern France. His works are beautifully de...