Wonderful 18thC Royal Navy Framed Naïve Watercolour painting (John Chambers d.1785)
This fabulous 18” x 14” watercolour on paper is in good condition for its age and having removed it from the frame, it’s also still very vibrant. It has the odd imperfection and minor tear commensurate with its age but has been mounted to preserve its integrity and comes in a period black & gilt 25” x 21” frame.
It
depicts a RN Brig in nearly full sail & flying a Red Ensign and has two other RN ships in the background. To the upper left corner is soaring bird above a Latin Scroll ( I cannot decipher the Latin) and to the top right corner is a cartouche which reads “I now John and Mary” “Cap John Chambers, Lowestoft 1785”
After many hours of research I initially thought it might be connected to Vice Admiral Sir John Chambers White, KCB (c. 1768– 1845), who was a prominent British Royal Navy officer of the 18th/19th, who participated in a number of engagements during the Napoleonic Wars. However the dates do not quite match unless the word “Cap” in the cartouche isn’t related to the word captain.
He did however, during his early days within the Admiralty serve on HMS Sylph, a small brig operating in Northern European waters which fits the ship in the painting.
Either way the buyer can make up their own mind on this detail but what I can say for certain, is that it’s a fantastic genuine 18thC Naval Watercolour!
£695
Local delivery, U.K. and International shipping available with collection’s welcome too
