Montague J. Dawson Oil Painting "The Q-Ship Mary Mitchell"

Item Details

Montague J. Dawson (England, 1890 – 1973)
The Q-Ship Mary Mitchell
Oil painting on canvas
Signed to lower left
Titled inscribed to verso; Inscribed to verso “The Q 9 Mary B Mitchell sinking a German submarine in Jan 1917”
Copyright stamp to verso of canvas

An oil painting on canvas fully titled The Q 9 Mary B Mitchell sinking a German submarine in Jan 1917 by renowned 20th century maritime artist Montague Dawson (England; 1890 – 1973). This nautical oil painting depicts the British Q-Ship, H.M.S. Mary B. Mitchell, as it attacks a German submarine during WWI. Featuring a trademark subject of the artist, the naval battle is rendered with meticulous attention to the anatomy of the veering ship and light effects on water, both of which were celebrated attributes of Montague’s formal skills. The painting is signed to the lower left and is inscribed to the verso, on the stretcher, ‘The Q-Ship Mary Mitchell sinking a German submarine in 1917’.

This particular Q-Ship had several encounters with German U-boats, or submarines, during World War I. The ship was credited for the destruction of two German U-Boats in 1917, however further analysis had led scholars to question this statistic. Nevertheless, the Mary B. Mitchell Q-Ship is historically regarded by many as a very successful and powerful maritime vessel of the British Navy.

Montague Dawson was born in England in 1890, the grandson of Henry Dawson and nephew of Henry Alfred Dawson, both notable artists. He spent his youth in Southampton Water on the Southern coast of England, where he developed his keen interest in ships. He began to draw and paint at an early age, though he never had formal art training. In 1910 he began work at a commercial art studio where he was able to develop his skills, but left at the outbreak of WWI to enlist in the Royal Navy. There he met celebrated marine painter Charles Napier Hemy (England/France; 1841 – 1917) who was to have a great influence on his career. Once the war ended Dawson established himself as a painter and illustrator specializing in nautical and historical scenes, known for his technical accuracy derived from his first-hand knowledge of ships and the sea. His strict attention to detail, combined with his masterful rendering of the sea and the sky, brought him much acclaim and commercial success. Amidst the outbreak of World War II, he was commissioned as an official war artist by the Sphere magazine to capture incidents of the war at sea.

Dawson exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1916 -1936 and at the Royal Society of Marine Artists where he was a member from 1946 to 1964. He was soon known as a leading maritime painter, earning Royal commissions and a place in the Presidential collections of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson. In addition, numerous institutions have collected his work, including the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, London), the North Carolina Museum of Art (Raleigh, NC), the Royal Naval Museum (Portsmouth, England), and the Tyne and Wear Museum (Newcastle Upon Tyne), among others.

Condition

- pinhead sized areas of loss on body of boat in foreground and to ocean; scattered areas of craquelure; minor accretions along edges; slight warping of canvas at corners; light wear to frame including finish loss at corners.

Dimensions

- measures frame; visible image measures 41.5" W x 27.5" H.

• Please note, this is an item that may be especially difficult to move and/or transport. The winner is responsible for bringing appropriate assistance, vehicle, proper materials, and any necessary tools to pickup. International shipping may be restricted.

Item #

19CIN023-526