thumb|upright|Portrait of Pocock by [[Edward Scriven]]

Nicholas Pocock (2 March 1740 – 9 March 1821) was an English artist who specialised in marine art.

Birth and early career at sea

Pocock was born in Bristol in 1740, the son of a seaman. He followed his father's profession and was master of a merchant ship by the age of 26. During his time at sea, he became a skilled artist by making ink-and-wash sketches of ships and coastal scenes for his logbooks.

Painting career

In 1778, Pocock's employer, Richard Champion, became financially insolvent due to the effects of the American Revolutionary War on transatlantic trade. As a result, Pocock gave up the sea and devoted himself to painting. The first of his works were exhibited by the Royal Academy in 1782. Two of his grandsons, Alfred Downing Fripp and George Arthur Fripp, were also artists.

He died on 9 March 1821 at the home of his oldest son, Isaac, in Raymead in the parish of Cookham, near Maidenhead, and is buried in the parish church there.

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Nicholas Pocock - Gorges de l'Avon au coucher du soleil (c 1785).jpg|The Avon Gorge at Sunset (1785)

Man-Of-War at a Coastal Anchorage, by Nicolas Pocock.jpg|Man-Of-War at a Coastal Anchorage (1787)

Woolwich Dockyard RMG BHC1950.tiff|Woolwich Dockyard (1790)

The Frigate 'Triton' RMG BHC3675.tiff|The Frigate 'Triton (1797)

Ships at Spithead 1797.jpg|Portraits of nine ships of war and others, launched from the yards, Messrs. Randall & Brent within the space of one year (1797)

Nicholas Pocock - A Landscape with Figures - Google Art Project.jpg|A Landscape with Figures (1798)

A fleet of East Indiamen at sea RMG BHC1097.tiff|A fleet of East Indiamen at sea (1803)

The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801.jpg|The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801 ()

Duckworth's Action off San Domingo, 6 February 1806 RMG BHC0571.tiff|Duckworth's Action off San Domingo, 6 February 1806 (1808)

Nelson's flagships at anchor.jpg|Nelson's flagships at anchor (1809)

Pocock Glorious First of June1.jpg|The 'Defence' at the Battle of the First of June, 1794 (1811)

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References

Notes

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Pocock biography
  • Another Pocock biography
  • Pocock paintings at the National Maritime Museum