Franklin D. Briscoe

Franklin Dullin Briscoe was a marine and history painter born in Baltimore, Maryland, moving to Philadelphia in 1848. Exhibiting an early interest and aptitude for art, Briscoe first studied under the famous marine artist Edward Moran, then traveled to Europe to further his education. Studying in both London and Paris, he hoped to settle in France, but the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war forced him to establish his studio in the United States. His seascapes for which he was best known were inspired by his own ocean expeditions and experiences. Dramatic weather was a prominent theme in his depictions, deriving from his own experiences. Briscoe exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Brooklyn Art Association, and also showed work in the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition.