Lot 179
  • 179

Samuel Walters

Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
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Description

  • Samuel Walters
  • The British Merchantman Clifford in a stiff breeze, preparing to pick up her pilot off the Great Orme, North Wales, on the return from her maiden voyage to India
  • signed and dated, lower left: S WALTERS 1865
  • oil on canvas

Provenance

Anne Etches, Harleyholm, Strathclyde, 1865;
Mrs D. Peake;
By whom sold, London, Bonhams, 12 January 1989, lot 353, for £18,000;
With Richard Green, London;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's South Kensington, 5 May 1994, lot 165, where unsold.

Literature

A. S. Davidson, Samuel Walters, Marine Artist: Fifty Years of Sea, Sail & Steam, Coventry 1992, p. 132, reproduced.

Condition

The canvas has been relined, the paint surface is clean and the varnish is clear and even. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals scattered spot retouching in the sky, and some sparse retouching to the left and right margins. There are very few spot retouchings in the sails of the ship, and some infilling to small networks of craquelure in the sea, particularly lower left. In overall 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."

Catalogue Note

The iron ship Clifford was built by the renowned Liverpool firm Thomas Royden & Sons in 1864. Walters portrays the vessel here flying the Royden house flag with the pilot jack at the foremast; the pilot cutter itself is pictured in the distance converging on the same tack. The mountains of North Wales may be seen above the Little Orme on the extreme left, while the Great Orme projects towards the ship's bowsprit and the coastal town of Llandudno lies in between. Astern of the ship is the north-west corner of the Anglesey coast.

This composition proved an enduring favourite with both Walters and his clientele. The present painting is a particularly luminous and fluent example of a scene that the artist painted under a variety of weather conditions, which serve also to chart the development of the artist's technical ability.