Lot Essay
Francia's watercolours of shipping exectuted in Calais in the latter period of his career are considered to be among his finest works. His watercolours are very close to those drawn by Bonington, and it is difficult to to tell which of the two influences each other more. For a similar handling of windswept shipping by Bonington, see Sotheby's London, 13 November 1997, lot 101.
Francia was born in France but decided to seek his fortune as an artist in London, moving there in 1790. In 1817, however, he came to the conclusion that, if he returned to Calais, he would have a monopoly on the depiction of the northern coast of France. He therefore spent the rest of his career producing coastal scenes in Rouen, Le Havre and Dieppe.
The present watercolour shows a gaff-rigged vessel in the foreground and a sprit-rigged vessel behind.
Francia was born in France but decided to seek his fortune as an artist in London, moving there in 1790. In 1817, however, he came to the conclusion that, if he returned to Calais, he would have a monopoly on the depiction of the northern coast of France. He therefore spent the rest of his career producing coastal scenes in Rouen, Le Havre and Dieppe.
The present watercolour shows a gaff-rigged vessel in the foreground and a sprit-rigged vessel behind.