James Clarke Hook was born in London, England on 21 November 1819 and trained at the Society of Equestrian Artists in London from an early age. In 1836 he was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools in London where he studied for three years. He subsequently worked as a painter and etcher, primarily of historical and marine subjects. Between 1839 and 1902 he exhibited more than 200 pictures at the Royal Academy in London. He also exhibited at the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, Baillie Gallery, Grosvenor Gallery, Fine Art Society and Arthur Tooth & Sons in London; Royal Birmingham Society of Artists; Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; Walker Art Gallery, in Liverpool, Manchester Academy of Fine Arts; Royal Cambrian Academy in Conwy, Wales; and at Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.
Hook was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) in 1850, a Royal Academician (RA) in 1860, and a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (RE) in 1881.
Hook's address was given as 18 South Lambeth, Surrey in 1839; 58 Newman Street, London in 1842; 4 Sidmouth Street, Regent Square, London in 1844 and 1858; Hambledon, near Godalming, Surrey in 1858; and Pine Wood, Witley, Godalming, Surrey in 1860 and 1866. In 1867 he settled at "Silverbeck", near Churt in Surrey, where he died on 14 April 1907.
Two of Hook’s son were artists, Allan James Hook (1853–1946), a marine painter and Bryan Hook (1856–1925), an animal and bird painter.
Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)
Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)
