Marine paintings thought to have been lost forever after Liverpool’s blitz now will be offered on sale at Bonhams New York on June 5th. Remarkable composition from 1916 by British maritime painter Thomas Jacques Somerscales, est. $12,000-$18,000 will be the highlight of the sale, entitled Bonhams Fine Paintings & Decorative Arts.
“The Somerscales painting shows the S.S. Ortega bravely outmanoeuvring the larger and faster S.M.S. Dresden, narrowly escaping cannon fire,” explained Bonhams Maritime Consultant, Gregg Dietrich. “In a sense, the subject of the painting is a metaphor for the work itself, which has also managed to survive against all odds.”
It was believed that this painting was destroyed – an idea upheld in Alex Hurst’s study Thomas Somerscales – Marine Artist, but was found in the home of private American collection.
In addition to the Somerscales painting, the auction includes works by many of the leading marine artists: three canvases by James Edward Buttersworth, including American Frigate in a Storm, estimated to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. Another masterpiece on offer is The Goelet Prize for Sloop Yachts with Gracie in the Lead by William Bradford, dated from 1883 and expected to reach between $60,000 and $80,000.
Notable works by Montague Dawson, George Webster, Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen and Samuel Walters will be also offered on sale.
