Skip to main content
Items Similar to 19thC English School Marine View With Royal Navy Man-of-War, Watercolour
Robert Strickland Thomas - Antique 19th Century Maritime Seascape War Ship Oil Painting HMS Britannia 1835
Antique 19th Century Maritime Seascape War Ship Oil Painting HMS Britannia 1835
Unknown - Framed 19th Century Watercolour - Le Généreux
Framed 19th Century Watercolour - Le Généreux
William MacKenzie Thomson - William MacKenzie Thomson - Early 20th Century Watercolour, HMS Northampton
William MacKenzie Thomson - Early 20th Century Watercolour, HMS Northampton
Unknown - Early 19th Century Watercolour - The French Approach
Early 19th Century Watercolour - The French Approach
Samuel Owen - 19thC English School Vessels Entering Portsmouth Harbour, Watercolour Painting
19thC English School Vessels Entering Portsmouth Harbour, Watercolour Painting
Unknown - Framed English School 19th Century Watercolour - The White Lighthouse
Framed English School 19th Century Watercolour - The White Lighthouse
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

19thC English School Marine View With Royal Navy Man-of-War, Watercolour

c. 1820

$833.16
£600
€713.37
CA$1,149.70
A$1,170.28
CHF 666.14
MX$14,126.09
NOK 7,767.59
SEK 7,861.25
DKK 5,332.81

About the Item

US buyers pay no import tariffs on this item. This early 19th-century watercolour, attributed to English artist Samuel Owen (1769-1857), depicts several vessels buffeted by turbulent waves. Owen was an accomplished British marine watercolourist who served in the Royal Navy. The impressive structure of a Royal Navy Man-Of-War steals the show in this finely rendered celebration of British naval power. Produced circa 1820, the Battle of Waterloo was fought around five years earlier, and the fluttering ensign is perhaps a symbolic reference to the might of the British forces. The details are finely rendered and typical of Owen’s meticulous approach. Born in the leafy village of Hillingdon, Middlesex, Owen’s father was a sailor and, as such, undoubtedly inspired his son to pursue a similar career. He appears to have lost his father early in life, but nevertheless, a life at sea was his calling. In 1788, he joined the Royal Navy and later captained several ships for the East India Company. These voyages took him across various continents, as far as Ecuador and Peru, Quebec and India. During his time as a sailor for the East India Company, he was appointed as a draughtsman, allowing him time to sketch while onboard. It’s interesting to consider exactly how easy this was amid the often violent waters. In 1791, his artistic prowess gained recognition from the Royal Academy when he debuted with 'A Sea View'. He continued to contribute for several years. Owen worked primarily during the Romantic period, when viewers were captivated by the drama of voyages to faraway lands. But aside from the emotive nature of his depictions, Owen was also exceedingly particular when drawing rigging. Each mast, sail and line was reproduced with care. As a sailor, to misrepresent a ship’s minutiae would be tantamount to treason. At the peak of his career, which occurred during the late 1810s to the 1830s, he contributed numerous drawings to two publications. The first was William Bernard Cooke’s ‘The Thames’, and the second was his own work alongside co-publisher William Westall, RA, and titled ‘Picturesque Tour of the River Thames’. Today, despite his works reaching considerable sums at auction during the 1990s/2000s, his achievements both as a sailor and a watercolourist are broadly overlooked. Yet, for us, he remains an important member of the maritime painting fraternity at a time when the seas truly captured the public’s imagination. He's represented in numerous public collections, including the Ashmolean Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, The Fitzwilliam Museum, the V&A Museum, Tate, The British Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, and the Government Art Collection. Unsigned. Held in a later frame. Learn more about Samuel Owen in our directory. Medium: Watercolour on paper Overall size: 21½” x 17½” / 55cm x 45cm Year of creation: c. 1820 Provenance: Private collection, UK. Artist’s auction maximum: £8,178 for ‘Fishing Vessels In A Calm (1802)’, Watercolour, pen, brown ink, pencil/paper, Sotheby's, Early English Drawings And Watercolours From The Collection Of Colin Hunter, London, 11 July 1991 (lot 92). Our reference: BRV2000
  • Attributed to:
    Samuel Owen (1769 - 1857, English)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1820
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)
  • Medium:
    Watercolor
  • Movement & Style:
    Naturalistic
  • Period:
    Early 19th Century
  • Condition:
    Overall, very presentable. Frame in excellent condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Cheltenham, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2328216781982

More From This Seller

View All
19thC English School Vessels Entering Portsmouth Harbour, Watercolour Painting

Samuel Owen19thC English School Vessels Entering Portsmouth Harbour, Watercolour Painting, c. 1820

19thC English School Vessels Entering Portsmouth Harbour, Watercolour Painting

By Samuel Owen

Located in Cheltenham, GB

US buyers pay no import tariffs on this item. This early 19th-century watercolour, attributed to English artist Samuel Owen (1769-1857), depicts several vessels approaching Portsmou...

Category

Early 19th Century Naturalistic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Early-19th-Century British Watercolour, Near Ingleton, Yorkshire

Amos GreenEarly-19th-Century British Watercolour, Near Ingleton, Yorkshire, c. 1800

Early-19th-Century British Watercolour, Near Ingleton, Yorkshire

Located in Cheltenham, GB

US buyers pay no import tariffs on this item. This fine early 19th-century watercolour by British artist Amos Green (1735-1807) depicts an asperous gorge near Ingleton in Yorkshire....

Category

Early 1800s English School Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Ink

The Norfolk Broads, 19th-Century British Landscape Painting

Robert GallonThe Norfolk Broads, 19th-Century British Landscape Painting, c. 1880

The Norfolk Broads, 19th-Century British Landscape Painting

By Robert Gallon

Located in Cheltenham, GB

This late 19th-century oil painting by English artist Robert Gallon (1845-1925) depicts a tranquil evening view of The Norfolk Broads. One of those rare evenings when the landscape i...

Category

1880s Victorian Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Late 19thC English Still Life Watercolour Painting – Bird’s Nest & Flowers

Late 19thC English Still Life Watercolour Painting – Bird’s Nest & Flowers, c. 1890

Late 19thC English Still Life Watercolour Painting – Bird’s Nest & Flowers

Located in Cheltenham, GB

US buyers pay no import tariffs on this item. This late 19th-century English School watercolour depicts an array of flora nestled into a mossy bank, together with a bird’s nest and ...

Category

19th Century Still-life Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

River Landscape In A Morning Mood, 19th-Century Landscape Painting

Albert RiegerRiver Landscape In A Morning Mood, 19th-Century Landscape Painting, 1878

River Landscape In A Morning Mood, 19th-Century Landscape Painting

Located in Cheltenham, GB

This beautiful late 19th-century oil painting by Austrian artist Albert Rieger (1834-1905) depicts a river landscape at dawn. It demonstrates the qualities that established him as on...

Category

1870s Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

W. Bolt - Framed Late 19th Century Watercolour, Ships Off a Choppy Coastline

W. Bolt - Framed Late 19th Century Watercolour, Ships Off a Choppy Coastline, Late 19th Century

W. Bolt - Framed Late 19th Century Watercolour, Ships Off a Choppy Coastline

Located in Corsham, GB

Fine late 19th-century nautical watercolour. Ships off a choppy coastline. The buoy has been inscribed 'Shambles', and the watercolour has been heightened with white. Well presented ...

Category

Late 19th Century Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Antique English Maritime Watercolor of Sailing Ships by L Owen

L OwenAntique English Maritime Watercolor of Sailing Ships by L Owen, Circa 1812

Antique English Maritime Watercolor of Sailing Ships by L Owen

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Historically interesting 19th century pencil and watercolor of East Indiamen type of sailing ships that sailed a trade route between Britain and India. This drawing originally owned ...

Category

19th Century Victorian Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Glass, Pencil, Watercolor

A. Burgess - Framed Late 19th Century Watercolour, Netherlands Navy at Sea

A. Burgess - Framed Late 19th Century Watercolour, Netherlands Navy at Sea, Late 19th Century

A. Burgess - Framed Late 19th Century Watercolour, Netherlands Navy at Sea

Located in Corsham, GB

A charming nautical watercolour from the late 19th century, depicting Netherlands ships sailing in blustery conditions. The watercolour has been signed by the artist to the lower rig...

Category

Late 19th Century Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Antique English Maritime Watercolor of Sailing Ships by L Owen

Antique English Maritime Watercolor of Sailing Ships by L Owen

Antique English Maritime Watercolor of Sailing Ships by L Owen

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Historically significant 19th century pencil and watercolor of East Indiamen type of sailing ships that sailed a trade route between Britain and India. This drawing originally owned ...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Paintings

Materials

Glass, Paint