Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are pleased to offer this well executed marine Oil Painting on canvas by the artist D. Watts, who has signed the painting verso on the canvas and entitled it ' A Gale At Sea', as shown. The painting depicts some shipping at sea during a gale. There are a couple of fishing vessels in the foreground, with two clipper ships to the left and, to the right a light ship, as you can see from the two lights on the top of the masts.

Lightships were run by Trinity House, and were manned, until they were replaced by unmanned vessels and, now, by mostly light buoys or lighthouses. There was one off the Goodwin Sands, and one off The Nore, at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, although there is no indication of the location depicted.

D. Watts, is sometimes listed as David Watts, but we looked up work by David Watts and most of it is definitely not by the D, Watts who painted this painting. Of course, it could be a pseudonym for another artist, but there are at least twn paintings with a similar signature that have been through auction houses in the past. This artist may not have exhibited his work, in which case, he would not be listed in any of the reference books.

The painting is framed in what is probably its original 2 1/2 inch gilt frame and slip. It will be supplied with new brass hangers, new brass picture wire and will be ready to hang.

Image size: 23 5/8 x 11 5/8 inches - 60cm x 29.5cm

Frame size: 28 3/4 x 16 3/4 inches - 73cm x 42.5cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good. There is one small repair to the canvas, some craquelure and stretcher marks consistent with age, but there is no paint loss and the surface is clean and taut. The frame is in good condition consistent with age and use, but there are no losses.