Beschreibung:

Ambroise Louis Garneray (French, 1783-1857), prison hulks and other shipping in Portsmouth Harbour, oil on canvas, showing detail of hulks and other warships including one under sail, 53cm x 102cm. Ambroise Louis Garneray (1783-1857): Born in Paris in 1783, the son of Jean Francoise Garneray (himself a student of Jacques-Louis David . Most of the Garneray family were professional artists, but Ambroise (known as Louis) persuaded his parents to let him go to sea aged thirteen. Taken Prisoner on the French vessel 'Belle Poule' in 1806 and not given the privilege of parole he was sent to the prison hulk 'Prothee' in Portsmouth Harbour. From 1812 he was allowed to live ashore in a parole area from which he painted a series of views of prison hulks and shipping in Portsmouth Harbour, released in 1814. On returning to France Garneray had a successful career as a marine artist and became director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Rouen in 1833. The paintings offered for sale in this auction are from this series of works by Garneray, very few are known to exist and this is believed to be the largest single collection of this series of paintings in existence. Similar views of Portsmouth Harbour by Garneray can be found in the National Library of Australia, Canberra (see E.H.H. Archibald, Dictionary of Sea Painters, 1980, plate 324), and a further three in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (work references: BHC1923, BHC1924 and BHC1925). See 'A History of Napoleonic and American Prisoners of War 1756-1816 - Hulk, Depot and Parole', Clive Lloyd, ACC Art Books, 2007. Provenance: The Clive Lloyd Collection, believed to have been formally from the collection of the Duchess of Sutherland. Re-lined. Extensive cracking to picture surface. Areas of red showing through. Possible undercoat/primer? Some overpainting/re-touching. Wear.