David James (1853 - 1904)

David James

David James, real name Joseph Donahue, was a British and Irish marine painter.

James was captivated by seascapes and the elements of the ocean throughout his life. His entire oeuvre is devoted to the forces and movement of water as a symbol of the power and impermanence of the natural world, which is in a state of perpetual changeability. James depicted the waves so realistically that they seem like a modern photograph. Waves crashing on the shore and foamy surf became the artist's trademark.