Francis Danby

Although Irish-born, Danby made his name as an artist in England. In 1813 he went to London with friends George Petrie and James Arthur O'Connor. Danby and O'Connor travelled on to Bristol where Danby remained until 1824. He then returned to London, but between 1830 and 1838, due to financial and personal problems, he spent time in Paris and Switzerland. He also toured Scotland and Norway. His early work was naturalistic, but in the 1820s he turned to painting melodramatic apocalyptic paintings, such as The Opening of the Sixth Seal, c.1828 (NGI.162), which matched the paintings of John Martin. He is best remembered for such dramatic works but in later years painted romantic landscapes that were melancholic in mood, Temple of Flora, 1840 (Tate, London). In 1847 he retired to Exmouth, embittered by his lack of financial success and failure to receive public honours. He was nominated for election to the RA in 1829 but lost out by a single vote to John Constable.