the collector's folio

Francis Swaine Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Francis Swaine our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Francis Swaine · 1725 – 1782

An English Sloop and a Frigate in a Light Breeze

Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 25.4 x 34.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

An English Sloop Becalmed near the Shore

1750 · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven · original 25.4 x 34.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Figures By Chelsea Waterworks, London, Observing The Fires Of The Gordon Riots

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

An English commodore off a jetty

original 15.2 x 20.3cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18134 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Ships in a Breeze

1771 · original 15.1 x 20.3cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

English men-of-war and a sloop wearing an Irish Ensign off the coast

original 96.5 x 119.3cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$499119 × 97 cm Commission at original size

The Capture Of The 'foudroyant' By Hms 'monmouth'

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Shipping in a storm

original 42.0 x 71.6cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18140 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$24372 × 42 cm Commission at original size

Shipping Off Dover, With A Town And A Castle In The Distance

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The Engagement between" The Arethusa" and "La Belle Poule", 17 June 1778.

1780 · original 62.1 x 93.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18139 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$32793 × 62 cm Commission at original size

Shipping In A Storm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18142 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Men O' War Off A Coast

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

A River Landscape in Holland

original 15.2 x 20.4cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

English Men-of-war And A Sloop Wearing An Irish Ensign Off The Coast

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

A Ship Firing A Gun By Moonlight

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Shipping Off A Shore

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18137 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

An English Commodore Off A Jetty

Discover 'An English Commodore Off A Jetty' by Francis Swaine! This dramatic maritime painting captures 18th-century naval life. Realistic style & rich detail – a stunning addition to your art collection.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Shipping Piece With A Ship Firing Gun

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18139 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

HMS Vanguard off Percé

1761 · original 94 x 114 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$476114 × 94 cm Commission at original size

Shipping Off The Isle Of Wight

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

An English Squadron Getting Under Way

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18136 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Men O' War Off The Coast

Francis Swaine’s "Men O’ War Off The Coast" captures a dramatic 18th-century naval battle. Explore this oil painting's dynamic composition, stormy seas & historical detail – a captivating maritime scene.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18134 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Fort St David, Madras

Admire 'Fort St David, Madras' by Francis Swaine – a detailed 18th-century seascape painting of British naval activity. Hand-painted reproduction available.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18135 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The Battle Of Quiberon Bay

Admire 'The Battle of Quiberon Bay,' a stunning 18th-century naval scene by Francis Swaine. Detailed realism & dramatic lighting capture this pivotal battle. Hand-painted reproduction available.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18140 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

The Landing of the Sailor Prince at Spithead

1765 · Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide · original 10.66 x 16.75cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 42 artworks by Francis Swaine
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$18140 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Francis Swaine

1725 – 1782

Quick facts

Museums on APSArt Gallery of South Australia, Yale Center for British Art, National Gallery of Canada
Lifespan57 years
Copyright statusPublic domain
Died1782
Top-ranked workAn English Sloop and a Frigate in a Light Breeze
Top 3 worksAn English Sloop and a Frigate in a Light Breeze, An English Sloop Becalmed near the Shore, Figures By Chelsea Waterworks, London, Observing The Fires Of The Gordon Riots
Movementsneoclassicism
Color intensitybalanced, monochromatic

Biography

The Master of Maritime Moonlight

Francis Swaine stands as a distinguished figure in the annals of British marine painting, a creator whose brush captured the raw power and dramatic tension of the eighteenth-century seas. Born in London, his life was deeply intertwined with the maritime traditions of his era. While some scholars have debated various stylistic influences, there is a profound connection to the work of Peter Monamy, under whom Swaine was demonstrably trained. This lineage of mentorship allowed him to inherit a specialized skill set, particularly in the rendering of nocturnal naval scenes and the ethereal interplay of light upon water.

His artistic identity was often defined by his ability to depict what contemporaries called moonlight pieces. These works were not merely records of naval engagements but emotional explorations of atmosphere and shadow. In masterpieces such as The Capture of the Foudroyant by HMS Monmouth, Swaine demonstrated a remarkable capacity for capturing the spectral glow of the moon as it illuminates the chaos of battle. Through his use of light, he could transform a violent confrontation between men-of-war into a hauntingly beautiful spectacle of silvered waves and dark, looming silhouettes.

Legacy and Artistic Influence

The significance of Swaine’s work lies in his ability to blend historical documentation with dramatic artistry. His compositions often featured the dynamic movement of stormy seas and the intricate details of naval architecture, providing a window into the grandeur and peril of 18th-century maritime life. Beyond his technical prowess, his legacy is also found in his familial connection to the arts; he was the father of Monamy Swaine, another notable British painter who continued to explore marine and genre subjects.

Throughout his career, Swaine’s contributions helped solidify the tradition of the marine painter within the British school. His works remain vital for their ability to evoke the historical weight of naval history through a lens of profound atmospheric beauty. Whether depicting the steady presence of ships off the coast or the intense energy of a naval review, Swaine’s hand remains etched in the history of those who sought to master the unpredictable elements of the ocean on canvas.

Questions & Answers

Where are Francis Swaine's artworks mapped by subject?

The Subject Atlas page maps Francis Swaine's artworks by subject.

Where are Francis Swaine's artworks grouped by art movement?

The All Movements page groups Francis Swaine's artworks by art movement.

Where can I find statistics about Francis Swaine's works?

Statistics about Francis Swaine's works are available on the artist's Stats page.

By the WahooArt.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 4, 2026

Collector's quiz

What type of painter was Francis Swaine?
In which city was Francis Swaine born?
Who was Francis Swaine's known teacher/pupil relationship with?
Which of these artworks is attributed to Francis Swaine?
In what year was Francis Swaine born?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your Francis Swaine

Every artwork by Francis Swaine in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by Francis Swaine