George Mounsey Atkinson (1806-84)

The Irish marine painter George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson was born in Cobh, County Cork and trained originally as a carpenter. He then went to sea for several years as a ship's carpenter before returning to Cobh, where he became a Marine and Customs official (Inspector of Shipping and Emigrants). His family (three sons and a daughter) included George Mounsey junior, Robert and Sarah Atkinson, all of whom were accomplished artists.

Atkinson was a self-taught artist who began painting in his mid-thirties. He had a thorough knowledge of the sea and - like Richard Brydges Beechey, Edwin Hayes, and the later William Coulter - specialized in marine art. His works were shown f...