D
DALORIA
See De Loria NORMAN
Percy DALTON
Dalton was a boat designer and builder, with a definite talent for the painting in watercolour of boats and marine subjects. Born in Plymouth in the early years (c1910-15) of the 20th century, he was the son of a builder and the grandson of a portrait painter on ships. Percy was a student at Plymouth School of Art, and though he must have showed talent (offered support to study in Rome) he went to sea instead, taking a variety of jobs, and crewing racing yachts for wealthy clients in the 1930s.
In WWII, he was comissioned a sub-lieutenant and worked on gun sights and torpedoes back in Plymouth, at the Devonport Dockyards. Following the war, he moved with his wife Beatrice and children to Falmouth, Cornwall where he remained for the rest of his life. His commissions for boat designs were many, and some of these may be found in local marine collections. His watercolours were also numerous, and some can be seen on the website that gives his biographical details: www.parishtram.co.uk/percydalton.htm.
Hubert DALWOOD
Born in Bristol, Dalwood is described by his biographer in the ODNB: 'Widely known as Nibs, Dalwood was one of the most charismatic, talented, and innovative British sculptors of his generation.'
In an interview with the artist Yan Kel FEATHER, for the Western Morning News, the interviewer was told about the art scene of c1947 in St Ives: 'everyone was scraping a living, before reputations were made, when the critic David LEWIS was working as a short order cook in a cafe on the waterfront, sculptor Hubert Dalwood was making toast at Tregenna Castle and Terry FROST was waiting on tables in St. Christopher's.'
This tidbit is the only mention that we have as yet concerning Dalwood in Cornwall, though by entering the pioneering Bath Academy of Arts at Corsham Court, Wiltshire (where he studied between 1946-49) he would have come across many artists that were either from Cornwall or would in future make their homes in Cornwall's artist conclaves. It may well be that he came to Cornwall during college breaks to work at summer jobs.
Alexander C DALZELL
The year before he joined STISA he exhibited at the RA (at that time resident in Warwick Square, London).
Among his works is the locally titled Farm at Zennor. By 1938 he was living in Bexley, Kent, but was hospitalised shortly afterwards. Dalzell was a landscape painter, his work described as modern, virile and bright.
Rachel DAMERELL
Damerell's paintings are inspired by re-visiting landscapes such as Trelissick Gardens and its surrounding estuary.
Thomas Hardridge DANBY
The son of Bristol artist Thomas DANBY (1817-1886), who in turn was the son of Francis DANBY ARA (1793-1861) and the nephew of the artist James Francis DANBY (1816-1875). All these men were landscape painters in both watercolours and oils, and painted wherever they travelled in Britain and on the continent.
Whybrow lists Thomas H Danby as being an associate of St Ives (1883-1900 painter list) and gives 26 Bowling Green Terrace and St Andrews St Studios as his addresses (p 210). He had studied at Bushey, and while in St Ives from 1899 he played both tennis and cricket, as Tovey reveals in his social history of the St Ives arts colony. His sister Helen Danby (as far as known, not an artist) was also active in the activities of the group, living locally.
Hendrick DANCKERTS
The artist was a Dutch-born painter who in 1657 came with his brother, Johannes, to work in England. He became Court Painter to Charles II. Danckerts travelled widely, and his most important commission for the King was to paint a series of twenty-eight canvases depicting various palaces and fortified ports.
A drawing of Falmouth Harbour may have formed part of this series, with its combination of seascape, landscape and topographical detailing. It would have been based on drawings executed on the spot, and shows the whole extent of Falmouth harbour, with the town on the right and a variety of shipping in the bay. The portrayal of figures in the foreground to the left is complemented by the sensitive rendering of sky and trees. The painting has been signed and dated 1678
William DANIELL
Penlee House, Penzance holds a set of original pencil drawings for the Penzance and St Michael's Mount aquatints (produced in 1813) by Daniell for Richard Ayton's book A Voyage Around Great Britain.
In 1799 Daniell entered the RA Schools, following in the footsteps of his uncle Thomas DANIELL (1749-1840) who had become responsible for bringing up his orphaned nephew. This was after William had accompanied his uncle to India, where Thomas worked as an engraver after his own training at the RA Schools (1773) and exhibiting at the RA; hence William was already an experienced landscape painter. His brother Samuel DANIELL (1775-1811) was a topographical artist.
George DANNATT
Originally a chartered surveyor in the family business, Dannatt was born in Blackheath, London. His artistic leanings were strong, and in the first instance related to music.
A self-taught painter, he was naturally energetic and eager to display his interpretations. His major geographical associations were with Dorset and Cornwall, where he concentrated his intense faculties on photography, geometric and abstract works. In retirement he lived with his wife in Wiltshire.
