John Christian Schetky - Artist

John Christian Schetky was a distinguished British painter who specialised in marine art. He was of Hungarian descent, his father having emigrated to Edinburgh in 1773, and who was a celebrated cellist and composerin his own right. JC Schetky was born in Edinburgh in 1778, met Sir Walter Scott (a lifelong friend) at school there and later studied art under Alexander Nasmyth. For some years, he was a drawing master in Oxford, and later obtained a professorship at Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, where he could study marine subjects. From 1805-1872 he contributed periodically to the Royal Academy summer exhibitions and he was marine painter to George IV, William 1V and Queen Victoria. One of his most famous works, "The loss of the Royal George" is held at Tate Gallery, London.