Background
Stanfield was born in London, the second son from the second marriage of his painter father Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1793–1867).
Stanfield was born in London, the second son from the second marriage of his painter father Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1793–1867).
He attended the Royal Academy Schools, but was not formally enrolled.
He received his artistic training largely from his father, and painted the same class of subjects including landscape art and marine art He is best known for his topographical views painted during his visits to the Rhine Valley, the Moselle, Switzerland, and the Italian lakes. Stanfield exhibited, starting at age sixteen, at the Royal Academy from 1844 to 1876 (a total of 49 works) and at the British Institution from 1844 to 1867 (a total of 73 works).
He had a limited success during his lifetime, probably due to a shift in taste of the public.