Painted Seascapes

Seascape Art

Painted Seascapes reflect our fascination with the power and mystery of the oceans. From waves lapping on the shore to depictions of goddesses, sea monsters, and stormy seas, it’s a varied genre.

Here’s a brief introduction to the most beautiful seascape art.

What is the Meaning of Seascape Painting?

Seascape wall art and maritime paintings depict the sea.

The word “seascape” appeared in 1790. But, of course, seascape art predates this official classification. Early ocean paintings include Rembrandt van Rijn’s stolen painting, Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1663).

This famous Rembrandt painting also shows the crossovers between religious art and seascape oil painting. Indeed, both genres grew during the 17th century. This expansion was due to the explosion of European exploration and sea travel.

Famous Seascape Paintings

Debate rages among art historians about the best painter.

Despite this, two names stand out as the finest artist of painted seascapes. These artists are the Russian painter Ivan Aivazovsky and the British artist J.M.W. Turner.

Ivan Aivazovsky’s most famous seascape painting is The Ninth Wave (1850), which bears many similarities with Rembrandt’s earlier Storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Turner’s depiction of The Fighting Temeraire (1838) is also exemplary. It shows a British warship (the HMS Temeraire) towed along the Thames. The proud ship travels towards its fate as scrap material.

The Famous Wave Painting

Katsushika Hokusai created The Great Wave off Kanagawa. He produced the artwork in 1831. Today, it’s one of the most famous depictions of the ocean.

Intriguingly, the artwork isn’t an oil painting at all. Instead, it’s a woodblock print that’s part of the Japanese ukiyo-e tradition.

Hokusai’s print shows three boats traveling along a troubled sea. The famous wave forms a spiral in the center of the composition, with Mount Fuji discernible in the distance.

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Painted seascapes for sale are available in all sizes.  We specialize in oversized wall art suitable for even the largest home or office.