STANFIELD, CLARKSON. a db-tinguished painter, was h. of Irish parents. in the town of Sunderland, rn out the year 1793, At an early period of his life he Went to sea, and made frequent lung voyages, among which was that to China. In the China seas he passed some years of his life, and served for a time in the same ship with Douglas Stanfield in the I.:privity of a C0111111011 sailor, and Jerrrild as a midshipman. While tiers enarored, Stanfield exhibited considerable talent both in painting and The first person of pi)Ilic note, however, to observe Stanfield's genius as a painter was the celebrated eapt. Marryat, who met with him in the Mediterranean, serving in a king's ship as captain's clerk. Stautield and Marryat afterward became intimate; and In 1841 the novelist employed the painter, then become famous, to illustrate his Poor JcIC4. Stanfieid left the navy, in consequence of ail injury to his feet, through a fall from *.te fore-topgallant mast-head of his ship. He then took to scene-painting as a means earaing his bread. His first efforts in this direction were made in the old Royalty theater, Wells street, Weilclose square, in the e. end of London, about the year 1818. 1R was afterward employed at Drury Lane theater, and here it is said that he produced some of his most extraordinary effects. Be carried on this occupation until the year 1827, when lie finally abandoned it, except on rare occasions. Stanfield, while painting for the theaters, lied by no means neglected easel-painting. The first picture . by hint that attracted any considerable notice was "Market-boats on the Scheldt," exhibited at the British institution in 1826. The picturesque grouping; variety of figures, and giy costumes were much admired. His " Wreckers off Fort Rouge, Calais," exhibited in tl.e following year. also at the British institution, was even more successful.
In 1828 he obtained from the British institution a prize of fifty guineas for another of his pictures. La 1830 Stanfield made his first excursion on the continent, and in the same year exhibited at the academy his " Mount St. Michael, Cornwall," which placed hint at once in the foremost rank as a marine painter. In 1823 Stanfield, in conjunction with David Roberts and others, founded the society of British artists. His election to the academy as associate took place in 1832; and in 1835 he was chosen sax., in con junction with sir William Allan. In 1833 Stanfield exhibited at the academy the first of a series of pictures of scenery, painted for the marquis of Lansdowne for the banqueting room at Bowater. In 1834 he commenced a similar series for the duke of Sutherland. In 1836 he exhibited "The Battle of Trafalgar," painted for the Senior United Service club; and in 1841 his celebrated Castello d'Isellia," engraved by the art-union in 1344. In 1843 he sent to the academy "Mazerbo and Lucello, Gulf of Venice," said to be one. of the finest landscapes he ever painted. " A Skirmish off Heligoland" (1867), was Stanfield's last contri.,ution to the exhilatious of the academy, of which he was so distinguished a member. His great merit lies in the skillful com bination of land and sea in the same view. Man and the works of man are not disdained by him in his portraiture of nature, and there is frequently a poetic feeling of the highest order in some of his conceptions, as in his pictures of "The Abandoned," and he Wreck of a Dutch East Indianian." Stanfield died on May 18, 1867.