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Lot Essay
Brett spent much of September and October 1871 with his wife and baby son at Whitesand Bay, near St David's, where he painted a number of oil sketches in his newly-adopted 7 x 14 in. format. These all feature one or other of the distant rocky outcrops known as the North Bishop and the South Bishop, which are visible looking west from the beach.
In his studio the following winter he developed three larger works from these sketches - Whitesand Bay (unlocated), The South Bishop Rock, Anticipations of a Wild Night (sold Christie's South Kensington, 29 June 2011, lot 83) and the present work. The first two were sent in to the 1872 Royal Academy, while this work was sent to Liverpool in the autumn as A Summer day on the sands. Commenting on the painting during the Liverpool exhibition, The Art Journal critic described it as "a most natural and delightful picture, full of character, and of the best points of Mr Brett's style".
We are grateful to Charles Brett for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
In his studio the following winter he developed three larger works from these sketches - Whitesand Bay (unlocated), The South Bishop Rock, Anticipations of a Wild Night (sold Christie's South Kensington, 29 June 2011, lot 83) and the present work. The first two were sent in to the 1872 Royal Academy, while this work was sent to Liverpool in the autumn as A Summer day on the sands. Commenting on the painting during the Liverpool exhibition, The Art Journal critic described it as "a most natural and delightful picture, full of character, and of the best points of Mr Brett's style".
We are grateful to Charles Brett for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.