Figures on beach

William Beverley (1811-1889) was primarily known as a theatrical scene painter, however he also worked in oils and watercolour. Beverley was born into a family of actors, and his father was also the manager of the Theatre Royal in Manchester, where he produced his first scenic paintings. He went on to work at other prominent theatres in England, including Princess's Theatre and Drury Lane in London. In 1853 he became scenic director at the Covent Garden Opera House.

While theatre work (both painting and acting) was his main source of income and renown, Beverley also produced works for exhibition, primarily at the Royal Academy between 1865 and 1880. He became a pupil of Clarkson Stanfield, also a former scene painter, and the two went on sketching tours together. Beverley specialised in marine and coastal scenes, depicting port towns or lake districts with imposing, atmospheric skies.

Herbert Blythe Mallalieu, in The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920 (1986), observed that Beverley’s favourite colours were blues and browns, with golden sunsets and a touch of red on figures. This palette can be observed in Figures on beach, which also bears a close resemblance to another beach scene in the art collection of Eton College. The cloudy sky is dominating the composition, and the scratching out technique applied to the surface of the sea creates a sense of light and movement.

Further reading:

Mallalieu, H.L. (1986), The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume I – The Text, 2nd edition, Suffolk: Antique Collectors’ Club.