James Webb 1825-1895
Were there any Victorian artists who were not drawn to paint Jersey's Mont Orgueil Castle?
Born in Chelsea, James Webb was a seascape painter who loved dramatic coastal views. He was attracted to the great castles along the British coast and visited Scotland, Wales, Spain, Holland, France and Germany. He visited Jersey on more than one occasion, producing several views of Mont Orgueil and St Aubin's Bay dated between 1859 and 1882.
He typically exaggerates his subjects to convey the atmosphere and drama of the scene (the central tower of Mont Orgueil Castle in the two pictures on this page is a good example of this artistic licence) and was a true romantic.
He exhibited in London at the Royal Academy, British Institution, Society of British Artists, New Watercolour Society and the Grosvenor Gallery.
His works can be found in the Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum and most of the provincial art galleries. They typically fetch £10,000 or more at auction.
Many other members of the Webb family were also painters.
