John Atkinson Grimshaw is best known for his powerfully atmospheric paintings of twilight, night-time, and autumnal scenes, and his pictures in the Scarborough Art Gallery reflect this.
The Burning of the Spa Saloon 1876
The artist looks down from the town at the burning Spa Building on the lower promenade. The reflected glow of the fire lights up the hill to the town, and illuminates the buildings there. The light of the fire also reflects onto the beach, and the sea, spreading towards the painter’s vantage point. In the background the moon shines on the sea, whilst above is one of Grimshaw’smoody, and subtly painted skies.
Lights in The Harbour 1879
This painting consists of a nocturnal view across the bay at Scarborough, with the Grand Hotel, the one of the largest brick built buildings in the world in the background. The lights of the foreshore flicker beneath the large hotel building. In the foreground are fishing boats ,and drying nets. The calm sea reflecting the lights, is beautifully done. The clear night sky reflects the lights of the town.
Burning Off A Fishing Boat at Scarborough 1877
A crowd of onlookers on the wet harbour-side watch the destruction of the boat. The sky is cloudy and threatening, with the moon peeping out from behind the clouds. The reflections of the spectators on the wet stone is wonderfully realised. A sailing boat crosses the sea in the background.
