Montague Dawson

With Frost & Reed, Ltd., London (inv. no. 27505)

From whom acquired by the present owner, 23 April 1960

Montague Dawson was born into an artistic family in London in 1895. He was taught from an early age by his father, a Thames yachtsman and artist, and his grandfather Henry Dawson, a successful landscape painter. Although Dawson was not formally trained, he inherited a talent for painting, and around 1910 was hired by a commercial studio in London. At the outbreak of World War I, he joined the Royal Navy, where he illustrated images of war for publications. After the War ended, he established himself as a painter and illustrator, concentrating on historically accurate portraits of ships, drawing on Britain's rich nautical heritage. He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1917, was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1936, and became a founder member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 1939, exhibiting there regularly between 1946 and 1970.

By the 1960s Dawson was reputed to be the highest paid living artist after Picasso. His work was certainly the highest priced of any living marine artist of the twentieth century and he was the century's leading exponent of painting clipper ships at sea. His wife and daughter helped cope with his constant stream of fan mail. His work was imitated by many and fakes began to appear even in his lifetime. He enjoyed success, particularly as it brought him the admiration of several members of the royal family and examples of his work entered the Royal Collection.

The present painting is a superb example of Dawson's historical works. In the foreground, an English naval cutter of the eighteenth century flies full sail; on board, her crew hastens to reach their destination, leaving only a wake spray in their path. Unlike the squadrons of immense warships seen on the horizon line, which carry heavy cannons of formidable, destructive power, the cutter was built for agility and speed. Such "fleet messengers" carried vital dispatches and intelligence to the Admiralty and to other squadrons of the fleet. They were extremely fast and carried only light armament, ten or twelve small guns. Despite their modest firepower, they were tactically vital, often serving as scouts for the main fleet. Navigating the ocean swell in such modest vessels demanded seamanship of the highest quality. During peacetime they were used to chase and capture smugglers. The names of many of the vessels have been lost to time, yet Dawson vibrantly records their essential role in maritime history.