Robert W. Salmon Robert W. Salmon (1775 – c. 1845) was a maritime artist, active in both England and America. He is widely considered the Father of American Luminism—a movement that championed atmospheric light and serene landscapes—and completed nearly 1,000 paintings, all save one of maritime scenes or seascapes. His prolific output cemented his place as a pivotal figure in 19th-century British and American art history. Early Life and Artistic Training Salmon was born Robert Salomon to Francis Salomon, a jeweler, in Whitehaven, Cumberland, England. The port town’s vibrant commercial acti…