Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely marine watercolour by the Northumberland artist BERNARD BENEDICT HEMY, who has signed the painting B.B. Hemy in the lower right hand corner. The painting depicts the worst shipping disaster to ever occur in the River Thames.

The paddle steamer SS Princess Alice was returning to London from a day trip to Gravesend when, at about 7.40 p.m. on the 3rd September 1878, she was struck in front of her starboard paddle-box by the collier Bywell Castle, which was returning to Newcastle to pick up coal after a repaint in dry dock. The Princess Alice split in two and sank within four minutes, resulting in the loss of around 640 lives, including the captain. The collision was caused by a confusion over right of way, partly due to a change in the rules in 1872, although there were conflicting verdicts from inquests and Boards of Enquiry. The 120 unidentified persons were buried in a mass grave in Woolwich Old Cemetery, where a Celtic Cross paid for by public subscription, stands as their memorial to this day.

There are many accounts in more detail available on google.

BERNARD BENEDICT HEMY 1855-1913, was a landscape painter in both oil and watercolour, who lived in North Shields, Northumberland and specialised in paintings of the North East coast. He was the brother of two other famous artists, CHARLES NAPIER HEMY 1841-1917 and THOMAS MARIE MADAWASKA HEMY 1852-1937. The family was also known for their musical talents and originated from Saxe Coburg Gotha.

Bernard, as well as his brothers, studied art at Newcastle School of Art under William Cosens Way and others. He exhibited at Suffolk Street in 1875 and 1877 and also in the North East and North West. His paintings are in several public collections i.e. The University of Hull Art Collection, the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, The Laing Art Gallery in Northumberland and a National Trust property, Cragside.

This artist is listed in The Dictionary of Victorian Painters by Christopher Wood and Painters in the Northern Counties of England and Wales by Professor Dennis Child.

Auctions results for works by this artist may be found at artprice.com (154 listings), arcadja.com (71), findartinfo.com (70) and askart.com (67). There is a wealth of information available on google.

The painting is double mounted with wash lines and is framed in a 1" gilt frame. It is ready to hang.

Medium Watercolours