Joseph Heard

19th Century marine oil painting of a barque sailing off Eddystone Lighthouse

C1840

Richard Ball Spencer British, (1812-1897) The Perthshire off Ailsa Craig Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 22.25 inches x 36.25 inches Size including frame: 31 inches x 45 inches This painting by Richard Ball Spencer is of the Perthshire, a three-masted barque sailing off Ailsa Craig. The Perthshire was built in Dundee in 1874 and was owned by Thomas Law of 123 Hope Street, Glasgow. The red ensign flying on the mizzenmast indicates it was a British merchant or passenger ship. The owner may well have commissioned the painting to commemorate its maiden voyage. Ailsa Craig, pictured to the far left, is a small uninhabited island off the west mainland of Scotland in the outer Firth of Clyde. The island is made up of volcanic rock which was quarried in the past and is now only used as a source of microgranite to make curling stones. The island is known by a number of different names including A' Chreag (the rock) and Creag Alasdair (Alasdair's rock). It was also sometimes referred to in the past as ‘Paddy’s Milestone’ as it marked the halfway of the sea journey Belfast to Glasgow made by Irish Emigrants seeking work. Richard Ball Spencer was born in London’s East End on 11 November, 1812 to John and Elizabeth Ball. His father was a grocer and the family lived at 106 York Road in Mile End. Both Richard and his brother Thomas were given their mother’s maiden name as their middle names. By 1841, he had established himself as a marine painter specialising in ship portraits and was influenced by artists such as Joseph Heard (1799-1859), William John Huggins (1781-1845) and Robert Salmon (c1775-1845). He spent his time travelling to trading ports around the British coast as well as the nearby London docks of Brunswick Wharf and the Isle of...

George Stainton British, (1838-1900) Fishing Vessels off a Harbour Early Morning Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 23.25 inches x 35.25 inches Size including frame: 31 inches x 43 inches A wonderful coastal marine painting of boats off a busy harbour at dawn by George Stainton. A large ship is depicted having weighed anchor and with sails unfurled as a supply boat arrives port side. In the foreground, a group of fishermen can be seen in a rowing boat waiting for their next catch. In the distance, lies a busy harbour, possibly Chatham Dockyard. George Stainton was a marine and landscape artist who was born in Aston, Birmingham in October 1838 to John Stainton and Ann Horton. By the age of 12, he was working as a paper mache painter and then later as a Japanner before becoming a full-time artist. He specialised in painting seascapes and river scenes in the style of Abraham Hulk and was influenced by the Dutch school. He exhibited at the Royal Society of Birmingham Artists from 1865 and also at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. He married Clara Adelaide Mason (née shears), a widow on 8 November, 1866 and together they lived in Addesley Street, Aston. The couple had 8 children and one of their sons Ernest Stainton became a lithographic artist. During the mid to late 1870’s he lived at Walnut Terrace in Kyrwicks Lane in the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham. However, by 1881, Stainton had moved to nearby Moseley Road where many Birmingham artists of the industrial period lived and also took up photography. Sometime during the late 1880’s early 1890’s, he made his final move to Pembroke Villa, 14 St Pauls Road, Moseley Road. He died at his home on 25 April, 1900. Whilst Stainton lived in Birmingham all his life, he travelled around the country painting coastal views of the Bristol Channel, Portsmouth and the Medway, as well as river scenes of the Thames, Tyne and Mersey. He also visited Scotland and Northern France. His works are beautifully detailed and show a masterful understanding of the moods of the weather and movement of the water. His paintings have always been popular when they appear on the art market. Presentation: The painting is housed in a new, English made gilt frame which is in excellent condition. Condition: As with all of our original antique oil paintings, this work is offered in ready to hang gallery condition, having been professionally cleaned, restored and revarnished. © Benton Fine Art

American School, Mid-19th Century The Clipper Mary Lee in High Seas Oil on canvas Unsigned 25 x 35 inches

Adolphus Knell 19th-century English Warship at sea Owning in a 19th-century English fishing boat captured at sea circa 1880 by Adolphus Knell, with the sun rising or setting, offer...