Expert research: Torsten Sabatier

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Charles Martin Powell (1775–1824) was an English marine painter celebrated for his dramatic seascapes and atmospheric views of naval life. Born in London, Powell began his career humbly as a ship’s boy in the Royal Navy, an experience that gave him a lifelong familiarity with the sea, its moods, and the technical details of rigging, vessels, and maritime maneuvers. This direct knowledge distinguished his art from many contemporaries who relied on imagination rather than firsthand observation.

 

Largely self-taught, Powell developed a painting style that combined close attention to nautical accuracy with a strong sense of drama. His works often depict turbulent seas, stormy skies, and ships caught in moments of both peril and grandeur. He was particularly admired for the way he captured the play of light on water and the restless motion of waves, giving his canvases a vitality that appealed to collectors and critics alike.

 

Powell exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1796 and 1821, showing views of English harbors, naval engagements, and coastal scenes. He also contributed to the British Institution, further establishing his reputation as a leading marine painter of his generation. His works were sought after by collectors during the height of Britain’s naval supremacy, when interest in maritime subjects was closely tied to national pride.

 

Although Powell died in London in 1824 at the age of only forty-nine, his paintings remain significant examples of British marine art in the early nineteenth century. Today his works can be found in both private collections and public institutions, valued not only for their aesthetic qualities but also as vivid documents of the seafaring world during the age of sail.

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Charles Martin Powell exhibited 40 times in London, of which 29  times were at the “Royal Academy“ between 1807 and 1821,

and eleven times at the “British Institution”. Nearly all of the exhibited paintings were marine paintings from nature.

 

His work is to be found in the „National Maritime Museum“, Greenwich, „Shipley Art Gallery“, Gateshead, and the

„Victoria and Albert Museum“, London.

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