John Hamberger

In the 1977 children’s book Sea Monsters of Long Ago, artist John Hamberger empowers prehistoric marine creatures, dynamically illustrating their presumed behaviors and underwater prowess. Suspended underwater, ichthyosaurs such as Opthalmosaurus, Kronosaurus, and Eurhinosaurus dive, hunt, writhe, and dart through the water; they command their subsurface presence. Hamberger romantically theorizes how these dinosaurs might have behaved in their natural element millions of years ago, all while illustrating the beauty of an underwater world.

AMFF is fortunate to have four of Hamberger’s paintings in its permanent collection. Donated by Mike Monier in 2019, these works are part of a significant angling art collection entrusted to the museum. The paintings are not of sea monsters but of various fish species popular with anglers. Rainbow Trout (1983) features two fish, calmly hovering beneath the surface, the sunlight filtering the current as it works through the water. A fly hangs beneath the first trout, the fish’s agape expression suggesting it is aware of the foreign object and potential snack. The plants undulate with the water as the trout contemplate their next moves. Hamberger’s composition embodies the underwater calm and reminds us it is the fish’s world we are interrupting. Prehistoric dinosaur or modern-day trout, Hamberger is skilled at capturing the nature of his subject matter. His fish are not just scientific specimens—they have character.

Two prehistoric-looking sea creatures—one crocodile-esque, one that resembles a plesiosaur, face off in choppy waters. Both mouths are open, displaying sharp teeth, and large, jagged stones protrude from the water in the background.
Two rainbow trout swim from right to left in a stream. Long grasses sway at the bottom, and a fly on a line stretches just below the leftmost trout.

Rainbow Trout, 1983
Oil on canvas (16½ x 26½ inches)
From the Trophy Art Collection donated by Mike Monier
AMFF permanent collection
2019.051.037

An Atlantic salmon, mouth open, curves downward from left to right. A large rock sits just behind it, and bubbles at the top of the stone indicate the top is above the surface of the river. Blue tones dominate the image.

Atlantic Salmon, 1990
Oil on canvas (23¾ x 35¾ inches)
From the Trophy Art Collection donated by Mike Monier
AMFF permanent collection
2019.051.167

A striped bass pursues a small flounder in a stream. It is moving from left to right, mouth open wide. Greens and yellows dominate the scene.

Striped Bass, 1990
Oil on canvas (23½ x 35¾ inches)
From the Trophy Art Collection donated by Mike Monier
AMFF permanent collection
2019.051.166

Three Atlantic salmon swim in a river from left to right; a fourth salmon can be seen in the background. Blue tones dominate the piece.

Atlantic Salmon, 1983
Oil on canvas (24 x 40½ inches)
From the Trophy Art Collection donated by Mike Monier
AMFF permanent collection
2019.051.036