#montague dawson

Montague Dawson (1890-1973) - Onward - the ‘Norman Court’

Oil on canvas. 40 x 50 inches, 101.6 x 127 cm.

Estimate: US$50,000-70,000.

Sold Hindman, Chicago, 10 May 2022 for US$75,000 incl B.P.

Purchased from Frost & Reed in 1963, the painting has passed down by descent until its sale here.

The tea clipper Norman Court was designed by William Rennie and built in the shipyard of A & J Inglis, Glasgow in 1869. Just under 198 feet in length, the ship operated on the same routes as her contemporaries Cutty Sark,ThermopylaeandTaeping, winning the annual tea race in 1872 with a time of 96 days. Rerigged as a barque in 1878, the ship was sailing to Greenock from Java with a cargo of sugar in March 1883 when it was driven aground in Cymyran Bay, Anglesey, during a force nine gale. The crew took to the rigging to save themselves.

Attempts were made by lifeboats from Rhosneigr and Holyhead to reach the stricken vessel but were thwarted by the conditions. More than a day and night passed before the heroic rescue of 20 crewmen was made by the Holyhead lifeboat men in the Rhosneigr boat. Only two of the crew were lost. Remnants of the wreck can be seen at low tide.

Six years ago (gawd!) I posted a painting by Sir Frank Brangwyn entitled Wreck - the last resource which gives a feel for the plight of the crew.

’Pirates’Haunt’,CocosIsland,Pacific,

MontagueDawson(British,1890–1973)

beardbriarandrose:

Montague Dawson (1895-1973), Wind in the Rigging, oil on canvas

ltwilliammowett:

Wind in the Rigging, by Montague Dawson (1895 - 1973)