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

Frost & Reed, London (acquired directly from the artist in February 1956, no. 20250, sold, and returned to stock, September 1956, no. 21465)

This condition report has been kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This work is in perfect condition. The canvas has not been removed from its original stretcher. The paint layer has probably never been cleaned or varnished and is stable. Three or four tiny cracks have developed in the center and center left, but these are not distracting or in need of any attention. The painting could be lightly cleaned and varnished, or it could be hung as is.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

While Dawson is celebrated for his paintings of majestic clipper ships on open seas, another important aspect of his oeuvre is his scenes of yacht racing.  Across the large, panoramic scale of Gay Weather, two yachts slice through the glistening sea, white wake and spray marking their swift progress. Dawson devoted his life to marine painting and few artists of the twentieth century rivalled his precision and skill in rendering boats and often their crew, seen in the present work standing shoulder-to-shoulder focused in their control of the speeding vessel. Compositions like Gay Weather demonstrate the artist’s intimate knowledge of the interplay between man and ship, wind and water and the thrill of sport that makes these racing scenes particularly compelling. The subject may have resonated particularly with Dawson, who grew up on Southampton Water, the son of a yachtsman.