For many artists it is difficult to earn money with their talent. This was also the case for David James, who sought his fortune in London in the second half of the 19th century. He was determined to make it big with his painting. While he had no formal training, he was gifted and full of dedication to his craft. At the beginning of his career, James lived in abject poverty and worked as a street artist to ensure his survival. Despite this, he never gave up. He was persistent, which eventually paid off: an art dealer discovered him and was fascinated by his work. Through this friendship, and the financial support he received as a result, James was able to develop his painting further. He found recognition and the opportunity for a better life, and one day was even able to exhibit his works at the Royal Academy.
His style, and the subjects he chose, reflect his steadfast character. James painted mainly maritime landscapes. The rough sea on the English coast, with its raging waves and sharp-edged cliffs, did not let him go. With great sensitivity, he set out to capture the beauty of this rather forbidding region. Who knows how many days he spent on the Cornish coast in wind and weather, studying the landscape there in detail. The unrelenting English rain probably soaked his clothes often as he made sketches and watched the movement of the waves.
The results were certainly worth the effort. James' paintings are dramatic and full of life. The natural force of the sea is almost palpable when you look at his works. At times his work focuses on depicting just one storm wave that encompasses the entire canvas. Sometimes the sweeping beaches and steep cliffs come to the fore. In other paintings, he depicts tranquil coastal landscapes, with fishing boats and sunshine breaking through the clouds.
James is classified in the genre of realism. This art movement turned away from idealized, unnatural scenes. Its goal was to show life as it is. James succeeded in this outstandingly well. Above all, his use of light, and how it reflects on the water, makes his subjects seem real. Every brushstroke, every color and shape, seems very deliberate and perfectly coordinated. This is remarkable, especially when you consider that he didn't have a camera available to look at the water calmly. He had to memorize the many details: The crest of the wave, the shifting light, the spray - the sea is constantly in motion. To capture it you have to be patient, and not get discouraged.
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.jpg "Atlantic Roll by David James")
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.jpg "Breakers by David James")
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.jpg "A Breaking Wave by David James")
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.jpg "Rough Sea by David James")
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.jpg "Stormy Sea with Translucent Breakers by David James")
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.jpg "Breakers, 1895 by David James")
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.jpg "A Cornish Roller by David James")
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.jpg "Fistral Bay, Cornwall, 1885 by David James")
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.jpg "Sea-piece by David James")
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.jpg "A Barge Running Out of Harbour, a Frigate Riding on Her Anchor Beyond by David James")
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.jpg "Waves crashing on a rocky coast by David James")
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.jpg "Vice-Admiral Phipps Hornby")
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.jpg "Peel Rock, Land")
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.jpg "Fishing off the Coast of Penzance by David James")
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.jpg "Crashing Waves by David James")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1133078).jpg "Plymouth Sound by Moonlight by David James")
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.jpg "A Rocky Coastline by David James")
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.jpg "A Coastal Scene by David James")
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.jpg "Gone by the Wind by David James")
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.jpg "Where Land Meets Sea by David James")
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