In 1826 Shipwrecked Smugglers was exhibited at the Royal Academy, where it was purchased by Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley and MP for Newcastle.
Its elements of melodrama, nostalgia and romanticism were careful judged so as not to offend notions of good taste.
Parker returned to the similar subject matter regularly over the next thirty years: Smugglers Attacked; Smugglers Alarmed; Smugglers Playing Cards; An Affray with Smugglers; Smugglers Resting and Smugglers Quarrellin'. ‘
Smuggler Parker’ became a nickname and a marketing strategy – the paintings sold well.
He embraced the role – dressing as a brigand at a fancy-dress ball and telling many stories about smugglers, which ‘greatly delighted the boys in his drawing classes.'
In 1826 Shipwrecked Smugglers was exhibited at the Royal Academy, where it was purchased by Sir Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley and MP for Newcastle. Its elements of melodrama, nostalgia and romanticism were careful judged so as not to offend notions of good taste. Parker returned to the similar subject matter regularly over the next thirty years: Smugglers Attacked; Smugglers Alarmed; Smugglers Playing Cards; An Affray with Smugglers; Smugglers Resting and Smugglers Quarrellin'. ‘Smuggler Parker’ became a nickname and a marketing strategy – the paintings sold well. He embraced the role – dressing as a brigand at a fancy-dress ball and telling many stories about smugglers, which ‘greatly delighted the boys in his drawing classes.'
Henry Perlee Parker