George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson
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Captain[1] George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1806 Cobh, Ireland |
| Died | January 7, 1884 (aged 77–78) Cobh, Ireland |
| Known for | Maritime paintings |
| Children | George Mounsey Atkinson Jr. (painter), Richard Peterson Atkinson (painter), Sarah Atkinson Dobbs (painter)[2] |
George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson (1806 – 1884) was an Irish marine painter known for his depictions of Cork Harbour and various ships.
Career
Atkinson worked at sea for several years as a ship's carpenter, then at Cork Harbour as a Marine and Customs official.[3] He became a self-taught artist in his mid-thirties. His working background gave him a unique understanding of the ships and marine activity that would feature prominently in his paintings, which often depicted detailed and accurate scenes from the harbour.[1] His artworks were first displayed in 1841 at the first ever exhibition of the Cork Art Union.[3]
Legacy
His paintings were reproduced as lithographs by W. Scraggs of Cork and Atkinson's son George Mounsey Atkinson.[1] His works have also become important historical documentation of Cork in the 19th century. Atkinson's paintings are held in various collections, including the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork.[2]
