William and Herbert Thornley

19th Century Painters of English coastal scenes of Devon and Cornwall, along the Dutch and French coasts, Whitby, Scarborough and Hastings, whose work is very similar, so both may have been members of the same family, or even the same artist. Although neither exhibited in London, their coastal fishing scenes, Thames estuary and River Medway views are spirited and similar in style to those of ‘Jock’ Wilson. They frequently appear on the London art market. Both artists painted many of their pictures in pairs, Moonlight, Dawn and Sunsets among their favourite subjects. Fine quality works on well prepared panels are among the most sought after commanding a higher collector value. It is now generally thought that William Thornley is the same artist as William A. Thornbery (q.v.) and W.A. Thornbury fl. 1883-1886 who exhibited three works, including 'Moonlight' and 'A Misty Day in the Pool', at a Suffolk Street, London address. Painting under another name was a practice sometimes indulged by Victorian artists.

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