Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 83 works by John Thomas Serres in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals John Thomas Serres left, the most famous is The Thames near Limehouse (1790), in the collection of the Royal Collection, London. Close behind it come Calshot Castle On The Solent (1794) and 'The Robust' Taking Possession of 'The Hoche' (1799). Our catalog holds 83 works by John Thomas Serres; the gallery has kept the 83 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
The river pulses with life in The Thames near Limehouse, a work by John Thomas Serres. Created about 1790, this oil on canvas captures a bustling maritime scene along the River Thames near Limehouse. The water carries a heavy weight of activity, reflecting the constant movement of late 18th-century London. Sailing vessels and small rowing boats navigate the currents, their presence marking the commercial heartbeat of the era.
A view of Lambeth Palace from the Thames
12
Shipping In The Thames Estuary
13
A British Merchantman Amidst Local Craft In The Bay Of NaplesHet Scheepvaartmuseum
14
Lovers by a Gate
15
Shipwreck
16
Man O' War Off Mont Orgueil Castle
17
Port Mahon, Minorca With British Men-of-war At AnchorYale Center for British Art
18
View Of London Bridge With A Hay Barge In The Foreground
19
A merchantman and a barge in a calm offshore, with fishermen on the rocks in the foreground
20
The 'royal Sovereign', YachtNational Maritime Museum
21
The ''louisa'' Engaging The ''cato
22
Shipping Off Barmouth, North Wales
23
A View Of Westminster_2
24
The Port Of Genoa
25
H.M.S. Indefatigable Joining Other Ships Of The Squadron Offshore
26
Putting Out To Sea In A Swell
27
Man-of-war At Anchor, In Port Mahon, Minorca
28
Barges Running Out To Meet The New Arrival
29
Shipping In The Bay Of Naples, Sicily
30
Naval Shipping Off Castle Cornet
31
Furling The Sails At Dusk, Off The Italian Coast
32
Men-o'war passing in the channel
33
A View Taken From Chelsea
34
The Battle Of CopenhagenNational Maritime Museum
35
Men O' War Off Newhaven, Sussex
36
TenbyNational Library of Wales
37
A Riverside Hamlet
38
The Little Sea Torch
39
The Entrance To The Port Of San Sebastian
40
A squadron passing drake island, on its way to sea
41
Third Rates In A Rough SeaNational Maritime Museum
42
The Pool Of London By NightAnglesey Abbey
43
Hm Frigates 'seahorse' And 'cerebus', Off Mont Orgueil Castle, Jerse
44
Near Woodside, Birkenhead, Wirral
45
A View Of The Old Castle At Leghorn
46
British Man O'war With Other Shipping At Anchor
47
The Thames
48
Fishing Boats In A Breeze Off Great Yarmouth
49
Barges On A Canal, Traditionally Identified As The Grand Junction Canal
50
The Trinity Yacht Firing A Salute, A View Of The Thames Estuary Beyond
51
The Proserpine Frigate Lost
52
Napoli La Grande
53
Shipping off whitby
54
The Thames With St Paul's Cathedral, LondonAnglesey Abbey
55
An english frigate amidst much activity in the bay of naples with vesuvius erupting beyond
56
The Wreck Of The H.M.S. Deal Castle
57
Men-of-war And Other Shipping In A Calm
58
Fishing Boat At Fulham
59
The thames at putney
60
George's dock basin, liverpool
61
An Outward-bound Frigate
62
Shipping Off Genoa
63
An English Frigate In Choppy Waters In The Tagus Passing The Belem Tower
64
Portsmouth Harbour At High Tide
65
The Lighthouse In The Bay Of Dublin, With His Majesty's Yacht 'dorset'
66
View Of Portofino, Near Genoa
67
Hms 'barfleur'National Maritime Museum
68
View of the Thames from Keen Edge Ferry
69
Caledonian Girls Fetching Water From The Fountain
70
View On The Thames At Deptford Dockyard
71
Shipping
72
Port Of Leghorn With A Half Galley Of The Grand Duke Of Tuscany Putting Out To Sea
73
Capriccio With A British Man O' War
74
The Harbour At Weymouth
75
The Beach At Posillipo, Naples, With Figures Walking Along The ShoreAnglesey Abbey
76
An admiralty yacht firing a salute to signal her departure
77
The Wreck Of The H.M.S. Deal Castle Off Puerto Rico
78
The Blowing Up Of The French Commander's Ship L'orient At The Battle Of The Nile
79
The 'pearl' Frigate Off Liverpool
80
The Thames At ShillingfordNational Maritime Museum
81
Fishermen in a boat in an extensive river landscape, a church beyond
82
H.M.S. Thisbe Running Down The Channel Under Reduced Sail -
83
The Battle Of The NilePetworth House
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by John Thomas Serres | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Collection |
London | 5 | The Thames near Limehouse, The Thames at Windsor Bridge, The Battle of Camperdown: I The Beginning of the Action |
 National Maritime Museum |
London | 5 | The 'royal Sovereign', Yacht, The Battle Of Copenhagen, Third Rates In A Rough Sea |
 Anglesey Abbey |
3 | The Pool Of London By Night, The Thames With St Paul's Cathedral, London, The Beach At Posillipo, Naples, With Figures Walking Along The Shore | |
 National Gallery of Ireland |
Dublin City | 2 | 'The Robust' Taking Possession of 'The Hoche', 'The Robust' Engaging 'The Hoche' off Tory Island, 12th October 1798 |
 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery |
Birmingham | 1 | Calshot Castle On The Solent |
 Het Scheepvaartmuseum |
Amsterdam | 1 | A British Merchantman Amidst Local Craft In The Bay Of Naples |
 Yale Center for British Art |
New Haven | 1 | Port Mahon, Minorca With British Men-of-war At Anchor |
 National Library of Wales |
Aberystwyth | 1 | Tenby |
From 1790 to 1824, John Thomas Serres worked for 35 years: the selection follows that long career year by year, through its finest originals.
Pick a year to see its originals.
The river pulses with life in The Thames near Limehouse, a work by John Thomas Serres. Created about 1790, this oil on canvas captures a bustling maritime scene along the River Thames near Limehouse. The water carries a heavy weight of activity, reflecting the constant movement of late 18th-century London. Sailing vessels and small rowing boats navigate the currents, their presence marking the commercial heartbeat of the era.
The Thames near Limehouse (1790), Royal Collection, London. Calshot Castle On The Solent (1794) and 'The Robust' Taking Possession of 'The Hoche' (1799) come next.
31 years old: The Thames near Limehouse dates from 1790, and John Thomas Serres was born in 1759.
The Thames near Limehouse, Calshot Castle On The Solent, 'The Robust' Taking Possession of 'The Hoche', 'The Robust' Engaging 'The Hoche' off Tory Island, 12th October 1798, The Thames at Windsor Bridge, The Battle of Camperdown: I The Beginning of the Action, The Battle of Camperdown: II The Close of the Action, The Royal Yacht 'The Royal George', at Portsmouth, Mediterranean Port Scene (possibly Genoa) and A view of Westminster from the Thames. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 83 works by John Thomas Serres, dated from 1790 to 1824.
Mostly in Royal Collection (London), National Maritime Museum (London) and Anglesey Abbey. The museum table above lists them all.
In 1798: 2 of the 83 works on this page were made then, The Thames at Windsor Bridge among them.
On this page, the earliest is The Thames near Limehouse (1790) and the latest Mediterranean Port Scene (possibly Genoa) (1824).
Rivers (9), Buildings (8) and Beach (8), across the 83 works on this page.
Neoclassicism and Romanticism, judging by the originals on this page.
The Thames near Limehouse, The Thames at Windsor Bridge and The Battle of Camperdown: I The Beginning of the Action: the Royal Collection, London holds 5 of the works on this page.
Born in Cornwall around 1759, Thomas Luny’s artistic journey began amidst the rugged beauty of the English coastline. His early life remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, but it's known that he moved to London at a young age, seeking opportunities within the bustling art scene. This relocation proved pivotal, as it placed him under the tutelage of Francis Holman, a highly respected marine painter whose influence would profoundly shape Luny’s artistic development. Holman’s studio, initially located in Broad Street and later moving to Old Gravel Lane, served as a crucible for young Luny's talent, providing him with invaluable experience and technical skills.
Luny’s apprenticeship wasn’t merely about imitation; it was about absorbing the essence of maritime art. Holman’s legacy is evident in Luny’s early works – dramatic depictions of ships battling storms, capturing the raw power and unpredictable nature of the sea. Crucially, Luny's own artistic voice began to emerge during his time with Holman, demonstrating a unique ability to convey atmosphere and movement within his paintings. This period laid the foundation for his later success as a celebrated marine artist.
In 1777, Luny embarked on a significant journey to France, an experience that undoubtedly broadened his artistic horizons. While the precise details of this trip remain somewhat elusive, it’s believed to have been a formative period for him, exposing him to different artistic styles and techniques. Returning to London, he continued to hone his skills and steadily gained recognition within the art world. Luny's first exhibited picture in 1778, “A distant view of the island of Madeira and Porto Santo,” showcased his emerging talent and established him as a rising star.
Between 1780 and 1802, Luny’s work was regularly featured at the Royal Academy, a testament to his growing reputation. This consistent presence reflected not only his artistic skill but also his ability to cultivate relationships with influential patrons and dealers. Notably, he partnered with Mr. Merle, a dealer based in Leadenhall Street, who played a crucial role in promoting Luny’s paintings and securing commissions from the powerful British East India Company, whose officers frequently sought depictions of exotic locales like Naples, Gibraltar, and Charleston, South Carolina – locations that Luny rendered with remarkable detail and accuracy.
Around 1807, Luny relocated to Teignmouth in Devon, seeking a quieter life and a new source of inspiration. This move marked a shift in his artistic focus, as he began to dedicate himself primarily to capturing the beauty of the Devonshire coastline. Despite grappling with arthritis later in life, Luny continued to produce stunning works that celebrated the region’s dramatic cliffs, picturesque harbors, and vibrant maritime activity. His paintings during this period are characterized by their atmospheric quality and meticulous attention to detail.
Luny's artistic legacy extends beyond his individual achievements. He played a significant role in establishing marine art as a respected genre within the British art world. His work is now held in prestigious collections, including the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, and his sketchbooks offer valuable insights into his creative process. Thomas Luny died in Teignmouth on September 30th, 1837, leaving behind a body of work that continues to captivate viewers with its evocative depictions of the sea and its surrounding landscapes.
Luny’s artistic style was deeply rooted in the traditions of marine painting, yet he possessed a distinctive vision. He was heavily influenced by Francis Holman's emphasis on dramatic lighting and dynamic compositions, but Luny developed his own unique approach to capturing the essence of the sea. His paintings are characterized by their atmospheric quality, skillful use of color, and meticulous attention to detail – particularly in depicting ships and nautical scenes. The influence of French landscape painting is also evident in his work, particularly in his ability to convey a sense of depth and perspective.
Furthermore, Luny’s experience as a guest on East India Company voyages undoubtedly informed his understanding of maritime life and geography, contributing to the realism and authenticity of his depictions. His paintings are not merely scenic views; they are windows into a world of exploration, trade, and adventure.
