JAMES CLARKE HOOK (BRITISH, 1819-1907)
The Ship Boy's Letter
signed with initials, hook symbol and dated 'JC 1863' (lower left)
oil on canvas
82 x 62cm
Provenance
Thomas Agnew & Sons, Old Bond Street, London;
Morgan & Brown Fine Art Dealers, Collingwood St. Newcastle upon Tyne;
Private collection, UK
| Estimate: |
£1,000 - £1,500
|
|
Hammer price:
|
£1,700 |
Bidding ended. Lot has been sold.
Although painted six years after Reading the Ship Boy's Letter (sold in these rooms, 11th October 2022, lot 400), it is possible to speculate the present work is closely related. In particular is the matching heading 'Off Cape...' written in a strikingly similar hand. There is something touching about the situation, with the ship boy stealing a moment to write to his family, kneeling on deck with his ink well hanging, while a much older crew member observes sails on the horizon.
Original canvas. The paint surface is in good clean condition; one small abrasion, lower right. Ultraviolet reveals retouching to a fleck of paint loss, lower right.
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