Although lighthouses existed to mark the ports of ancient civilizations, they were not recorded as subject matter by the artists of their time. It was not until the 18th century, beginning the era of widespread naval trade, that the building of light houses proliferated. Victoria Chick, figurative contemporary artist and early 19th/20th century print collector, discusses the history between artists and lighthouses. See her Lighthouse article here: http://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/lighthouses-as-beacons-for-artists/