Paul-Jean Clays was one of the most esteemed marine painters of his generation, and was also one of the first artists to rebel agains the traditions of the Academy. Born in Bruges, Belgium, he ran away from secondary school to enlist as a cabin boy.

In Paris he decided to become a painter, and subsequently studied with Suisse, Horace Vernet, and Theodore Gudin. In 1859 he embarked on his painting career in Brussels. Clays' early works show the influence of Romanticism, a tradition he ultimately rejected. He was one of the first artists to appreciate the calmer aspects of water and to focus attention on the nuances of clouds, light, and atmosphere. He portrayed vessels in great detail, and was a keen ob...