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

Frost & Reed, London
E. Stacy-Marks Ltd., London (by March 1962)
Purchased from the above; thence by descent

Montague Dawson had a keen interest in depicting clipper ships, the sailing vessels that catapulted the trading world into the modern era. In the present large-scale masterpiece composite clipper Shun Lee is portrayed in all her glory. In addition, Dawson has expertly captured a Junk to her port side, showing his skill at depicting all kinds of craft. The rich colours of the smaller sails on the Junk contrast with the striking unfurled white sails of the clipper and the scale of Shun Lee can be fully appreciated. The two boats seamlessly cut through a choppy, foaming sea and our eyes are drawn in to witness the two sailors waving to each other from afar.

Shun Lee was built by William Walker & Co. at Rotherhithe’s Lavender Dock in 1866. She was of composite design (registered at 674 tons gross (650 net), she measured 158 feet in length with a 32-foot beam) and her construction was supervised by recognized authority Bernard Waymouth. Like other clippers Argonaut and Titania, Shun Lee was designed for the China tea trade however she only completed one return trip to China before she was sold to Potter & Co. of London in 1871. From 1880 she was re-rigged as a barque and then changed hands several times finally ending up with J. Carew in 1891.