Plymouth 1793 to 1816
Charles Eastlake was born on 17 November 1793 in Plymouth, Devon. He was the fourth son of Admiralty Law Agent, George Eastlake. He attended Plympton Grammar School where his early art education was encouraged by the Headmaster, Dr Bidlake.
Eastlake's family and friends did much to foster the arts in Plymouth. Eastlake's father was responsible for setting up the Plymouth Proprietary Library in 1810. Family friend and mayor, Henry Woollcombe, founded the Plymouth Institution in 1812, which held regular art exhibitions. Later, during the 1840s, Eastlake's nephew William helped to revive the Plymouth Society of Artists and Amateurs.
Eastlake received his most significant art education from two Plymouth-born artists, watercolour painter Samuel Prout and history painter Benjamin Haydon. He also learnt a lot from the teachings of another local artist, the famous 18th century portrait painter, Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Prout, the son of a naval outfitter in Plymouth dockyard, was not an experienced teacher but gave Eastlake art lessons and encouraged him to sketch out-of-doors. Eastlake then became Haydon's pupil in 1809. The pair remained in touch until Haydon's suicide in 1846.
Eastlake maintained close ties with Plymouth throughout his life. In 1832 he was presented with the Freedom of the City. He also enjoyed staying at Hillside (now Hillside Court) in the parish of Plympton-St-Mary, a property that he inherited from his eldest brother William in 1845.
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| Plympton Grammar School by Samuel Prout ® Plymouth City Council (Museums and Archives) | View of Plymouth from Coxside by Ambrose Johns ® Plymouth City Council (Museums and Archives) |