Claude-Joseph Vernet
Born on 14 August 1714 in Avignon, where he first studied under his father, Antoine Vernet (1689-1753). He later studied with J. Viali and P. Sauvan in Aix. In 1734 he went to Rome, initially to make drawings from the antique for the marquis de Coumont, his patron in Avignon, but he stayed for eighteen years, receiving further tuition from the landscape painter A. Manglard and meeting Panini, van Bloemen and Locatelli.
By 1739 he had acquired a reputation as a landscape and marine painter, his subjects reflecting Claudean calm or the agreeable terror of a shipwreck or storm. He was particularly popular with English patrons and in 1750 he received his first commission from the French Crown.
He returned to Paris in 1753 when he was reçu by the Académie and was commissioned by Marigny, directeur des Bâtiments to paint the Ports de France. In 1763, after travelling round the French coast, he completed the series of fifteen (they are now in the Louvre and the Musée de la Marine). His later work became somewhat repetitive, but his reputation remained considerable, Diderot preferring him to Claude. He died in Paris on 3 December 1789.
His son Carle Vernet (1758-1836) and grandson Horace Vernet (1789-1863) were also painters, the latter greatly admired by the 4th Marquess of Hertford.
