Edward Duncan

Edward Duncan (21 October 1803 – 11 April 1882) was a British watercolourist known for his depictions of coastal views and shipping. He was a member of the Royal Watercolour Society and received Royal patronage from Queen Victoria.

Biography "The Explosion of the United States Steam Frigate Missouri" by Duncan, c. 1843, showing HMS Malabar looking on at the ship's final fate after helping rescue its survivors. Edward Duncan was the son of Thomas Duncan (c. 1781 - 1841) and Peggy, née Watson. He was born on 21 October 1803 at St Pancras in London. He was apprenticed to Robert Havell, the principal aquatint engraver of Audubon's Birds of America. Duncan was thus afforded frequent opportunities of studying the works of Havell's brother, the watercolorist, William Havell. These developed his taste for drawing and the use of colour.

After tutelage under the Havell Brothers in London, Duncan started his own engraving studio, and primarily created print works for Fores of Piccadilly. In 1826, a project to engrave maritime scenes, after paintings by William John Huggins (the official artist to the royal court of King William IV, and King George IV) are said to have sparked Duncan's interest in marine subjects.

A sale of his works at Christie's in 1885 took three days; and a sale of 1887 lists nearly 2,000 of his sketches and paintings.

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