The Exhibition Building, Melbourne.

Josiah Robert Wells (1849 - 1897)

British marine artist, illustrator and watercolour painter best known for his contributions to The Illustrated London News during the late nineteenth century.

Wells established himself as the principal marine artist for The Illustrated London News between 1873 and 1883, specialising in highly accurate depictions of naval vessels, merchant shipping, yachting events and maritime disasters. His illustrations combined technical precision with lively composition, making them an important visual record of the Royal Navy and Britain's maritime activities during the Victorian period. His work also documented international naval reviews, regattas, polar expeditions and commercial shipping.

A skilled watercolourist, Wells exhibited at the Royal Academy and was a member of both the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the New Society of Painters in Water Colours. His paintings and published engravings were admired for their faithful rendering of ships and coastal scenes, reflecting both artistic ability and an intimate understanding of naval architecture.

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