A Hoy and a Lugger with other Shipping on a Calm Sea
From 1793 John Thomas Serres served as Marine Painter to King George III and from 1800 as Marine Draftsman to the Admiralty. In that role he was required to sail with naval vessels to sketch the coasts of France, Spain, and the Mediterranean to help the navy in its effort to contain Napoleon’s imperial ambitions. This watercolor could well have been made following one of these journeys, since the hoy and lugger are typical of the kinds of cargo and fishing boats that sailed in the same waters Serres traversed.
Gallery label for Great British Watercolors from the Paul Mellon Collection at the Yale Center for British Art (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 2007-07-11 - 2007-09-30)
Credit Line: Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Watercolor with pen and black ink on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
33.3 x 47.3cm
B1986.29.549
Digital image courtesy Yale Center for British Art; free to use under the Center's Image Terms of Use
Where you'll find this
Yale Center for British Art
Permanent collection