Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Unknown 1

Robert W. Salmon

Name Class Date
Robert W. Salmon, Unknown 1. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Robert W. Salmon wikioo.org/en/artists/robert-w-salmon/
Artist’s dates
1775 – 1845
Movement
Romanticism Art that puts feeling, wildness and the power of nature above calm order and rules.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Robert W. Salmon died in 1845; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1915.

Source: WikiOO.org — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

Unknown 1 — Robert W. Salmon Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Unknown 1 — Robert W. Salmon

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1770
  2. 1780
  3. 1790
  4. 1800
  5. 1810
  6. 1820
  7. 1830
  8. 1840

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 70 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Robert W. Salmon (1775–1845) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1812 Main working years: 1812–1833 Late works: from 1833

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/robert-w-salmon-unknown-1-8CEGRR-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    White #f0e8de

    Catalogued palette

    • #F0E8DE
    • #3D3539
    • #946257
    • #CCAD9B

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    White
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Robert W. Salmon over the last twelve months — 7 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 62.5%3,000 visits
    2. 2 Hong Kong 14.6%700 visits
    3. 3 United States of America 10.4%500 visits
    4. 4 Singapore 6.2%300 visits
    5. 5 United Kingdom 2.1%100 visits
    6. 6 Saudi Arabia 2.1%100 visits
    7. 7 Ukraine 2.1%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Robert W. Salmon

    1. 1 Shipping off Greenock, 1818 10.8%700 visits
    2. 2 Picture of the 'Dream Poleasure Yacht'', 1839 7.7%500 visits
    3. 3 View of Algiers, (painting), 1828 7.7%500 visits
    4. 4 A Sailing Ship in the Mersey, 1811 4.6%300 visits
    5. 5 Boston Harbor from Castle Island ( Ship Charlotte ), (painting), 1839 4.6%300 visits
    6. 6 Shipwrecked, 1821 4.6%300 visits
    7. 7 HMS Revenue Cutter 'Wickham', 1825 3.1%200 visits
    8. 8 A Schooner with a View of Boston, 1832 3.1%200 visits
    9. 9 American Schooner under Sail with Heavy Seas 3.1%200 visits
    10. 10 Armed Merchantman Entering Liverpool Harbor, (painting), 1819 3.1%200 visits
    11. 11 Dismal Swamp Canal with Lake Drummond Hotel, (painting), 1830 1.5%100 visits
    12. 12 View of the Middle Church and Harbour, Greenock, 1812 1.5%100 visits
    13. 13 A Coastal Scene, 1827 1.5%100 visits
    14. 14 Liverpool Town Hall Illuminated, 1806, 1807 1.5%100 visits
    15. 15 A Packet off Liverpool, 1809 1.5%100 visits
    16. 16 Bidston, Wirral, Old Lighthouse and Flagpoles, 1825 1.5%100 visits
    17. 17 Scottish Coastline, 1841 1.5%100 visits
    18. 18 View of Palermo, 1845 1.5%100 visits
    19. 19 Taking Down the Sails, 1841 1.5%100 visits
    20. — Unknown 1 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 65.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 173 works by this artist, of which 41 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: WikiOO.org — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

    Unknown 1 — Robert W. Salmon Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Robert W. Salmon

    Born in Whitehaven, United Kingdom

    Early Life and Artistic Training

    Origins: Salmon was born Robert Salomon to Francis Salomon, a jeweler. Whitehaven's bustling port provided an early influence on his artistic development.

    Early Influences: His training is not extensively documented but it’s believed he studied Dutch marine painters of the 17th century, Italian vedute artists, and Claude Lorrain.

    Early Works: His earliest known works, “Two Armed Merchantmen Leaving Whitehaven Harbor” (1800) and “The ‘Estridge’ off Dover,” demonstrate his early skill in capturing maritime scenes.

    Royal Academy Debut: Salmon first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1802, marking a significant step in his career.

    Career Development and Style

    Move to Liverpool (1806): Salmon settled in Liverpool and changed his name to Salmon. This period saw him produce numerous marine paintings now housed in the National Maritime Museum in London.

    Ship Portraits: His ship portraits reveal a deep familiarity with sailing ships and their mechanics, often depicting the same vessel from multiple angles on a single canvas.

    Popularity & Collectors: Salmon's work gained popularity among prominent Bostonians like Samuel Cabot, Robert Bennett Forbes, and John Newmarch Cushing, indicating his growing recognition in America.

    Luminism Pioneer: He is considered a key figure in the development of American Luminism, influencing artists like William Bradford and Fitz Henry Lane. His emphasis on light and atmosphere created serene and tranquil scenes.

    Notable Works and Artistic Significance

    Key Paintings: Some of Salmon's most recognized works include "The Brig 'Ariel'," "Sailing Ship 'Trelawney'," and “View of Liverpool from Cheshire.” These paintings exemplify his skill in capturing the beauty and complexity of sailing vessels.

    Boston Harbor Series: He produced a significant body of work depicting Boston Harbor, showcasing maritime life and historical Boston. “Boston Harbor from Castle Island (Ship Charlotte)” is a notable example.

    Influence on American Art: Salmon's style profoundly influenced subsequent generations of American seascape painters, contributing to the development of Luminism as an important artistic movement.

    Legacy and Recognition

    Museum Holdings: Salmon’s works are held in prestigious institutions including the U.S. Naval Academy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

    Lasting Impact: His paintings continue to inspire artists today, serving as a testament to his skill and artistry.

    Father of American Luminism: Salmon’s legacy is firmly established as a pioneer of American Luminism, leaving an indelible mark on the art world.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Unknown 1

    wikioo.org/en/art/download/robert-w-salmon-unknown-1-8CEGRR-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Salmon, Robert W.. Unknown 1. n.d., https://wikioo.org/en/art/robert-w-salmon-unknown-1-8CEGRR-en/
    APA
    Salmon, Robert W. (n.d.). Unknown 1 [Painting]. https://wikioo.org/en/art/robert-w-salmon-unknown-1-8CEGRR-en/
    Chicago
    Robert W. Salmon. Unknown 1. n.d. https://wikioo.org/en/art/robert-w-salmon-unknown-1-8CEGRR-en/
    Harvard
    Salmon, Robert W. (n.d.) Unknown 1. Available at: https://wikioo.org/en/art/robert-w-salmon-unknown-1-8CEGRR-en/

    Source: WikiOO.org — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

    Unknown 1 — Robert W. Salmon Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Unknown 1 — Robert W. Salmon

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: landscape painting, rural setting, cityscape view. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Dismal Swamp Canal (1830), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Romanticism: Art that puts feeling, wildness and the power of nature above calm order and rules. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: WikiOO.org — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

    Unknown 1 — Robert W. Salmon Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    How does "Unknown 1" balance light and dark?

    "Unknown 1" is bright overall, and its luminance is bright balance.

    Where does "Unknown 1" sit within Robert W. Salmon's body of work?

    Within Robert W. Salmon's output, "Unknown 1" sits in the Romanticism style, alongside the themes of key luminist maritime works, early exploration of light, romantic landscape tradition, william bradford's luminism, british scenic painting, humanity & nature balance, progress vs. tranquility.

    Where can I download "Unknown 1" by Robert W. Salmon?

    The image of "Unknown 1" by Robert W. Salmon can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page: a high-resolution digital image download.