Montague Dawson Paintings

A very fine example by the British marine Master Montague Dawson. Purchased directly from Frost & Reed (World agent and publishers or Montague Dawson) in 1963. Private Collection USA.

Montague Dawson 1890-1973 British The Pioneer, The Nonsuch Signed “Montague Dawson” (lower left) Oil on canvas The dynamism of the seas and the might of the clipper ships that br...

Montague Dawson 1890-1973 British Onward - The Norman Court Signed “Montague Dawson” (lower left) Oil on canvas The dynamism of the seas and the might of the clipper ships that brave their waters are captured with great accuracy and attention to detail in this monumental work by Montague Dawson. Here, the artist brings vividly to life the historic clipper ship Norman Court as it battles the waves on the open sea. Dawson, arguably the most important maritime painter of his generation, possessed an incomparable talent for rendering ships at sea with unparalleled energy and vitality. The speed and grace of these historic ships is perfectly realized in the present work, enhanced by Dawson's mastery over composition and the large scale of the painting. Built and launched in 1869 by A. & J. Inglis of Glasgow, Norman Court was a composite clipper ship that traveled between the United Kingdom and East Asia under the command of Andrew Shewan and his son, also named Andrew Shewan. While returning from Java to Glasgow carrying sugar, Norman Court's career was cut short in March of 1883 when a powerful gale caused the ship to be wrecked on the rocks of Cymyran Bay, between the villages of Rhoscolyn and Rhosneigr in Wales. Dawson's immersive composition captures the ship at full sail and the height of her glory, battling the white-capped waves on a brilliant day at sea. The son of a keen yachtsman and grandson of marine painter Henry Dawson, Montague Dawson spent much of his childhood on the Southampton Water, where he was able to indulge his interest in the study of ships. Naturally gifted at drawing and painting, the self-taught Dawson became a member of an art studio group in Bedford Row...

Solent One Racers cut across the rolling waves in this striking work by master maritime artist Montague Dawson. These are racing on the Solent, the strait between the Isle of Wight and the English mainland. The Solent One Design was one of the first One Design classes created. 22 were built between 1896 and 1897 for members of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Island Sailing Club. Here, there is a fair wind...

'Making a Run' 20th Century Atmospheric Seascape painting of a clipper at sea, with choppy waves and incredible detail. A gem of a piece, by this notable English marine artist. Like ...

Montague Dawson 1895-1973 British In the Trough of the Waves, the Clipper Oberon Signed “Montague Dawson” (lower left) Oil on canvas Montague Dawson, arguably the most important maritime painter of his generation, possessed an incomparable talent for rendering ships at sea with unparalleled energy and vitality. His dynamic seascapes, like In the Trough of the Waves, the Clipper Oberon, perfectly realize the grace of historic ships, enhanced by the artist’s mastery over composition. Depicted against the might of the ocean, the sailing vessel appears to rise up on the waves as it glides effortlessly through the water. The ship Dawson renders here, a British clipper ship weighing 1,194 tons, was the Oberon. Built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1869, the Oberon was originally built to be a steam clipper before she was converted into a sailing vessel. A newspaper article from the Daily Alta California on October 8, 1876 explains that the ship was used for Shaw & Maxton's China Tea Clipper Line, running routes to Australia and New Zealand to assist in the Chinese tea trade to Europe and the United States. On the ship, the Daily Alta writes of the Oberon: "Her planking, of teak-wood, is as smooth as glass, and with her beautiful entrance and fine run, there is nothing to prevent her from sailing. Her great length (241 feet, with a beam of but 36 feet,) gives her good sailing power, and that she possesses this power in a remarkable degree. [...] Nothing but teak is used in the construction of the vessel's fittings. A fine piece of carving extends across the after part of the house on deck, illustrating the legendary of 'Midsummers' Night's Dream,' from which the name of the vessel was taken." Dawson captures the boat from a distance, rendering not the beauty of the teakwood carvings, but certainly the imposing and glorious presence of the Oberon under sail. The son of a keen yachtsman and grandson of marine painter Henry Dawson, Montague Dawson spent much of his childhood on the Southampton Water, where he was able to indulge his interest in the study of ships. Naturally gifted at drawing and painting, the self-taught Dawson became a member of an art studio group in Bedford Row...