Montague Dawson R.S.M.A., F.R.S.A.

Stacy-Marks
Richard Green
Sale Christie's, New York, 21st May 1986, lot 208 as Squally Weather

L.G.G. Ramsey, Montague Dawson, 1967, p. 25, cat. no. 55

STRUCTURE The canvas has been relined. PAINT SURFACE The paint surface is in excellent clean condition; ready to hang. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT UV Light reveals a few areas of infilling to craquelure in the sea lower right and a few scattered cosmetic flecks in the sky to the left of the mast. Otherwise, good original condition. FRAME Under glass and held in a modern plaster gilt frame in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In this superb work Dawson places the legendary Cutty Sark in a sublime and breathtaking seascape.  There is a palpable sense of optimism as the storm passes giving way to a glorious sunset, the light from which plays across sea and sky.  Dawson utilises a markedly panoramic canvas to heighten this sense of grandeur.

Cutty Sark was launched on 22nd November 1869.  She was built by Scott & Linton, a small shipyard in Dumbarton, who unfortunately went bankrupt before completion.  It was left to Denny Brothers, who took over the yard, to complete her.  She was designed by Hercules Linton and owned by John Willis, a shipowner based in Leadenhall Street in the City.  In 1862 Willis purchased a paddle steamer, The Tweed, which had been built in 1852 and originally named Punjaub.  Having been converted to a sailing ship Willis put her under the command of one his most trusted captains, Captain Stewart.  Under his command she proved extremely fast and weatherly.  While The Tweed was in dry dock Linton was able to examine her hull thoroughly and based Cutty Sark's bow on her own.  The distinctive stern was his own design; the generous overhang above the rudder trunk demanded a thickened hull and the increased bearing proved advantageous when running before heavy, following seas.   She was a composite clipper measuring 212.5 feet in length with a gross weight of 963 tons.

The Name Cutty Sark  was taken from the famous poem Tam O'Shanter by Robert Burns, and literally means 'little shirt'.   Written in 1870 the story tells of Tam, a farmer, riding home on his mare Meg, following an evening's drinking.  On reaching the churchyard of Kirk Alloway, he finds it filled with witches and warlocks dancing to bagpipes played by Satan himself.  Amongst the crones stands one beautiful witch, Nannie, wearing a cutty sark.  As her dancing reaches a peak of frenzy Tam cries out,'Weel done cutty sark'.  The witches then pursue Tam who rides for his life towards the nearest river, aware that witches cannot cross running water.  Just as Meg crosses the river, Nannie grasps her tail which comes off in her hand.  It is this moment which inspired Linton to create the figurehead of Cutty Sark - Nannie with her arm outstretched, carved by F. Hellyer of Blackwall.  Whenever the clipper set sail, apprentices members of the crew would weave a horse's tail from old rope and place it in her hand.

Cutty Sark embarked on her first voyage to China in 1870 taking 110 days to sail from Shanghai to London.  She proved most effective under quartering winds, reaching speeds of fifteen to sixteen knots regularly and even recording seventeen and a half knots under the command of Captain Moodie.  Her fastest passage from China took place in 1876 when she sailed from Woosung to London in 109 days under Captain Tiptaft.  From the early 1880s she made several passages to Australia carrying a cargo of wool.  These voyages arguably witnessed her prime when she challenged such legendary clippers as Thermopylae; in 1887, under Captain Richard Woodget she departed Newcastle on 28th December and was off Dungeness on 8th March the following year, a voyage of just seventy days.   

Willis finally sold her in 1895 to a firm based in Lisbon, Ferreira & Co, who renamed her after the company.  During the First World War she was dismasted off Cape Agulhas and towed into Cape Town where she was re-rigged as a barquentine.  In 1922 she was sold to another Lisbon firm who re named her Mario do Amparo before being sold to Captain Dowman who restored her original rig at Falmouth.  She had a brief career as a training ship alongside HMS Worcester at Greenhithe before being floated into dry dock at Greenwich on 10th December 1954 under the ownership of the Maritime Trust.