Charles Dixon and the
Golden Age of Marine
Painting

by Stuart Boyd
Review by Carol Waterkeyn

Charles Dixon was one of the greatest maritime artists, living from 1872 to 1934, during a most prolific period for Britain’s seagoing culture. It culminated in the time of the great ocean liners and, throughout, British shipbuilding was admired and respected the world over.

Charles Dixon therefore had a huge range of subjects to paint and draw and he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts and the New Watercolour Society for many years until his passing. This book brings together many of his most iconic works, including The Royal Yacht Britannia Winning at Cowes of 1933, Clearing the Dockside at Southampton (RMS Titanic); The Battle of Jutland; and Britain’s First Two Ironclads (HMS Warrior and HMS Black Prince).

The artist favoured The Solent and the Thames as locations but there are also works included in this wonderful book emanating from the Netherlands, Egypt, and other, mostly nautical, locations.

The RNLI is lucky enough to have several of Charles Dixon’s paintings in its Heritage Collection, including notably one of a Cromer lifeboat rescue entitled The Coxswain Driving the Cromer Lifeboat on to the Deck of the Barge. This painting appears in Stuart Boyd’s book and depicts the Silver Medal service of Coxswain Henry Blogg to the Sepoy in 1933, in which he rescued her two crew members.

This is a beautifully produced book, well researched, written and illustrated and an inspirational gift for those interested in maritime art.

Hardback book
Published by Halstar
ISBN 9781906690151
Price: £29.99

Special offer for readers of the Lifeboat: phone the author on 01202 423953 to order direct and receive free postage and packing.