British 1917 Watercolor of a Steamship at Sea, Signed Herbert R. Cole, in Oak Frame

Atmospheric British watercolor of a steamship at sea, signed and dated "Herbert R Cole 1917" at lower left. A four-masted, single-funnel cargo liner, her hull painted a sober grey above a red waterline, pushes bow-on through a rolling grey-green swell, rust streaking her plates and rigging lines etched against an overcast pearl sky. A second vessel sits low on the horizon at left. Painted in the middle of the First World War, when many merchant ships set aside their peacetime colors for grey, the scene captures the quiet endurance of the ships that kept sailing through the war years. Soft washes of lavender, blue and cream build the sky and sea with a sure hand. Presented under glass in a handsome oak frame with a silvered slip. Price includes shipping!

A natural for a study, a library or a coastal home, and a thoughtful gift for anyone with a love of ships or a family history at sea.

About the artist: The signature is believed to be that of Herbert R. Cole (1890-1962), who was born on the Isle of Wight and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. He became known as a mural painter and surgical artist, illustrating medical textbooks; his medical drawings are held by the Royal College of Surgeons in London and the Hocken Library in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he also painted landscapes under the name Rix Carlton.

KEY FEATURES

• Artist: Signed Herbert R. Cole; believed to be Herbert R. Cole (1890-1962)
• Medium: Watercolor on paper
• Subject: A grey-hulled steamship at sea in the First World War era
• Signature: Signed and dated lower left "Herbert R Cole 1917"
• Frame: Oak frame with a silvered slip, under glass

DETAILS

• Country: UK
• Condition: Very Good
• Year: 1917
• Dimensions: H 14.25" x W 16.75" x D 1.75"