SIR HENRY EDWIN LANDSEER R(1802-1873) - ‘GRAVESEND STEAMER’.
 

Sir Henry Edwin Landseer (1802-1873) - 'Gravesend Steamer'

A fine and diminutive pen and ink drawing of four passengers aboard a ship . One gentleman faces the viewer and his three companions lean overboard. Inscribed with title lower left.

The introduction of steamboat services on the River Thames in the early 19th century made it possible to commute to London from as far as Gravesend. They also gave ordinary Londoners their first opportunity to take day or weekend trips to Estuary and coastal resorts such as Southend, Margate, and Ramsgate.

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer RA (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) Sir Edwin Landseer was an English painter and sculptor, that was specifically celebrated for his paintings of animals, particularly dogs.

The artist was celebrated in his lifetime and his appeal crossed the class boundaries with engravings of his work common in working and middle-class homes, while his paintings were popular with the wealthy and the aristocracy.

Queen Victoria and Albert commissioned numerous pictures from the artist, and Landseer became a frequent guest at Court. He began initially by painting various royal pets, (some of the most well-known are the painting of ''Eos'' in 1841 and ''Her majesty''s favourite pets'' in 1837/8), followed later by portraits of ghillies and gamekeepers. He taught both Victoria and Albert to etch, and made portraits of Victoria''s children as babies, usually in the company of a dog. He also made two portraits of Victoria and Albert dressed for costume balls, at which he was a guest himself. One of his last paintings was a life-size equestrian portrait of the Queen, shown at the Royal Academy in 1873, made from earlier sketches.

Landseer loved Scotland and it provided the subjects and settings for many of his most recignised paintings including ''The Hunting of Chevy Chase'' (1825–26), ''An Illicit Whisky Still in the Highlands'' (1826–1829), the majestic stag study ''The Monarch of the Glen'' (1851) (now in the Scottish National Gallery) and ''Rent Day in the Wilderness'' (1855–1868). In 1828, he was commissioned to produce illustrations for the Waverley Edition of Sir Walter Scott''s novels.

Provenance: With Sabin Galleries Ltd., London; the collection of David and Sandy Fuller.

Framed Dimensions: 26.5cm x 31cm

Price: £1200 (including worldwide express delivery)