Francis Danby was born in Ireland and studied in Dublin Royal Society Schools with the landscape painter James O'Connor. He lived in Bristol from 1813 to 1823 and then moved to London. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1821 to 1860 mostly poetic and imaginary landscapes, especially with effects of sunset or early morning. He also exhibited some religious and historical subjects. In his later years he moved to Exmouth, where he concentrated chiefly on mythological subjects, for example The Departure of Ulysses from Ithaca. Some of his large and dramatic pictures are in emulation of the work of John Martin. Danby was never made a full Royal Academician, which was a great disappointment to him, and led to public criticism of the academy election procedures.
C. Wood, Fairies in Victorian Art, Antique Collectors' Club, 2000, p.18 (illustrated p.19)