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PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF GLEN S. FOSTER ROBERT SALMON (1775-AFTER 1845) ROYAL NAVAL VESSELS O...

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:125,000.00 - 150,000.00 USD
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF GLEN S. FOSTER ROBERT SALMON (1775-AFTER 1845) ROYAL NAVAL VESSELS O...
property from the estate of glen s. foster ROBERT SALMON (1775-after 1845) Royal Naval Vessels off Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven oil on canvas 261/4 x 403/4 in. (66.7 x 103.5 cm) painted circa 1839 estimate: - $125,000-150,000 provenance Glen S. Foster, new york Literature A. S. Davidson, marine art and the clyde-100 years of sea, sail and steam, Jones-Sands Publishing, wirral, England, 2001 Excerpted with thanks to Samuel Davidson: Milford Haven is probably the United Kingdom's best natural harbor and was especially well suited to the needs of the old time sailing navy on account of its upwind situation. It was also strategically situated for an expedition to Ireland. Not surprisingly therefore, a Royal Dockyard was opened at Milford in 1790, but was shortly transferred upstream to Pembroke on the opposite south bank in 1814. Even with a full gale blowing at sea, this landlocked haven offers complete shelter. The viewpoint is from the heights near Neyland looking southwards over the harbor, the dramatically silhouetted rocky vantage point in the foreground containing several very typical groups of figures. The right margin is framed by the forepart of what appears to be a topsail schooner secured alongside a small jetty. One of her "hands" is out on the jib-boom making the necessary preparations for shipping the bowsprit. An interesting point is the anchor laid out ahead, ready for hauling off the jetty on departure. Shown in starboard bow view on the left of the picture is an anchored frigate of about thirty guns airing sails and displaying a white ensign at the after peak with the usual long pennant at the main masthead. Just to the right is what appears to be a brig-rigged corvette emerging through the gap between the frigate and an anchored two decker of over fifty guns. The flag at her foremast suggests an Admiral of the White Squadron. On the right, viewed from the port quarter is a sloop also wearing the white ensign and heading towards the distant dockyard marked by the many masts at the water's edge beneath the fort-like building on the skyline. Next to the right of the flagship is a brig of about twenty guns, displaying a red ensign and at the foremast a swallow tailed tricolor with horizontal segments of yellow, blue and red. Very likely an Admiralty commissioned packet, she is approaching under minimal sail and might well have mail or personnel to transfer to the flagship. In the distance astern, is a third incoming vessel, ship-rigged and also wearing a red ensign. From the small number of guns and somewhat crowded decks she may be an Admiralty chartered transport. These larger vessels are cleverly disposed so as make most effective use of contrasting sunlit water and shadow, the whole relieved by a variety of ship's boats in the foreground either under oar or sail. In characteristic Salmon fashion the canvas captures the busy atmosphere and multifarious activities of a long departed era.