Geoff Hunt is particularly well known his paintings of naval scenes adorning the covers of Patrick O'Brian’s bestselling 'Aubery-Maturin' novels, a connection he began in 1988. Here he explains how his collaboration with O'Brian began and flourished.
Geoff Hunt's collaboration with Patrick O'Brian significantly influenced his career as a marine artist, propelling him to international recognition and commercial success. In 1988, he began creating cover art for O'Brian's acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin naval history novels. This marked a turning point in Hunt's career, as his work gained widespread exposure to millions of readers across the world.
Hunt's meticulous research and attention to historical detail aligned perfectly with O'Brian's writing style. O'Brian himself praised Hunt's work, stating that his pictures were "perfectly accurate in period and detail" and often "suffused with a light reminiscent of Canaletto".
The partnership with O'Brian opened doors for Hunt to work on other notable nautical fiction series, including C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower books and Julian Stockwin's Thomas Kydd series. While Hunt was already a renowned book cover artist before his collaboration with O'Brian, it was this partnership that brought him more widespread commercial success.
Hunt's expertise in depicting 18th and 19th-century ships, honed through his work on O'Brian's novels, led to prestigious commissions. In 2007, he was asked to paint an artist's reconstruction of Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, demonstrating the respect he had gained in the maritime history community. The impact of Hunt's association with O'Brian's work is evident in the continued recognition he receives. His illustrations for O'Brian's novels are now considered iconic, and he has become known as the "Master Painter of the Naval World of Nelson and Patrick O'Brian". This title reflects the seamless blend of historical accuracy and artistic vision that characterises Hunt's work, a skill he refined through his collaboration with Patrick O'Brian.
Hunt's meticulous research and attention to historical detail aligned perfectly with O'Brian's writing style. O'Brian himself praised Hunt's work, stating that his pictures were "perfectly accurate in period and detail" and often "suffused with a light reminiscent of Canaletto".
The partnership with O'Brian opened doors for Hunt to work on other notable nautical fiction series, including C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower books and Julian Stockwin's Thomas Kydd series. While Hunt was already a renowned book cover artist before his collaboration with O'Brian, it was this partnership that brought him more widespread commercial success.
Hunt's expertise in depicting 18th and 19th-century ships, honed through his work on O'Brian's novels, led to prestigious commissions. In 2007, he was asked to paint an artist's reconstruction of Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose, demonstrating the respect he had gained in the maritime history community. The impact of Hunt's association with O'Brian's work is evident in the continued recognition he receives. His illustrations for O'Brian's novels are now considered iconic, and he has become known as the "Master Painter of the Naval World of Nelson and Patrick O'Brian". This title reflects the seamless blend of historical accuracy and artistic vision that characterises Hunt's work, a skill he refined through his collaboration with Patrick O'Brian.
Signed and numbered limited edition prints, both on canvas and on paper, of the stunning paintings used for the covers of the O'Brian novels are available for sale in The Patrick O'Brian Collection
