Charles Brooking (1723 – 1759)
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Charles Brooking was an English painter, best known for his maritime scenes. While Brooking is sometimes described as ¨self-taught¨, it is believed that he had some instruction. Many art historians have concluded that Brooking’s father was also a painter and decorator, who was active in Plymouth and Ireland.
Brooking’s work was scarcely known until 1754, when his talent was discovered and he received his first major commission from the Foundling Hospital. For this commission, Brooking painted “A Flagship Before the Wind Under Easy Sail”. The painting was strongly received and Brooking was elected to be governor and guardian of the institution. The painting is intended to reflect Peter Monamy’s painting “Fleet in the Downs”.
It is speculated that Brooking took on various pupils, including Dominic Serres and Francis Swaine. Unfortunately, Brooking did not leave behind a great deal of information and much of his life remains a mystery. Most historians believe that Brooking died of consumption, leaving his family penniless. Consequently, most of Brooking’s documented paintings were executed during the last six years of his life. Brooking’s earlier works are hard to date and have not been studied as extensively as his later works.
Many of Brooking’s paintings can now be found at the Greenwich Maritime Museum in London. The museum owns more than twenty of his paintings in addition to numerous engravings. The former United States President, J.F. Kennedy, was known to have a collection of Brooking’s drawings.
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