This early 19th-century watercolour, attributed to English artist Samuel Owen (1769-1857), depicts several vessels approaching Portsmouth harbour buffeted by turbulent waves. Owen was an accomplished British marine watercolourist who served in the Royal Navy.
Considered one of the oldest Dockyards in the world, Portsmouth was at the forefront of maritime activity. The Royal Navy was a major employer, and Portsmouth was home to numerous distinguished warships. Here, we see a ‘ship of the line’, with its sails billowing and crew working tirelessly on deck. The details are rendered with careful observation, which is typical of Owen’s meticulous draughtsmanship.
Born in the leafy village of Hillingdon, Middlesex, Owen’s father was a sailor and, as such, undoubtedly inspired his son to pursue a similar career. He appears to have lost his father early in life, but nevertheless, a life at sea was his calling.
In 1788, he joined the Royal Navy and later captained several ships for the East India Company. These voyages took him across various continents, as far as Ecuador and Peru, Quebec and India. During his time as a sailor for the East India Company, he was appointed as a draughtsman, allowing him time to sketch while onboard. It’s interesting to consider exactly how easy this was amid the often violent waters.
In 1791, his artistic prowess gained recognition from the Royal Academy when he debuted with 'A Sea View'. He continued to contribute for several years.
Owen worked primarily during the Romantic period, when viewers were captivated by the drama of voyages to faraway lands. But aside from the emotive nature of his depictions, Owen was also exceedingly particular when drawing rigging. Each mast, sail and line was reproduced with care. As a sailor, to misrepresent a ship’s minutiae would be tantamount to treason.
At the peak of his career, which occurred during the late 1810s to the 1830s, he contributed numerous drawings to two publications. The first was William Bernard Cooke’s ‘The Thames’, and the second was his own work alongside co-publisher William Westall, RA, and titled ‘Picturesque Tour of the River Thames’.
Today, despite his works reaching considerable sums at auction during the 1990s/2000s, his achievements both as a sailor and a watercolourist are broadly overlooked. Yet, for us, he remains an important member of the maritime painting fraternity at a time when the seas truly captured the public’s imagination.
He's represented in numerous public collections, including the Ashmolean Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, The Fitzwilliam Museum, the V&A Museum, Tate, The British Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, and the Government Art Collection.
Held in a later frame.
Learn more about Samuel Owen in our directory.
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Overall size: 21½” x 17½” / 55cm x 45cm
Year of creation: c. 1820
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed ‘Entering Portsmouth Harbour’ on the reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Overall, very presentable. Frame in excellent condition.
Artist’s auction maximum: £8,178 for ‘Fishing Vessels In A Calm (1802)’, Watercolour, pen, brown ink, pencil/paper, Sotheby's, Early English Drawings And Watercolours From The Collection Of Colin Hunter, London, 11 July 1991 (lot 92).
Our reference: BRV1999
