拍品專文
This painting was commissioned by the Great Great Grandfather of the present owner, who was born in Rothesay in 1776. He was impressed into the navy at the age of 30 into the receiving ship Enterprise at the tower of London. He then served as master mate on the Poictiers (74 Gun Ship) and was 2nd Master until 1812. He went to the Mindon (74 Gun Ship) as an acting Lieutenant, was promoted to Lieutenant on the 4th February 1814, and went on half pay in August. Joining the Fishery Patrol in 1815 he served on the 'Cutter' Tickler (14 Gun) and finally assumed command of the Martial (built in 1805 as a 12 Gun Brig).
It has been suggested that the present painting may represent Martial and Tickler on the right, although there is a disparity in the number of guns. It is feasible though that some of the guns on our Brig are dummies. We can be sure that it is not a regular fighting navy vessel, despite the white ensign. The crew are too few and the top-hatted figure is certainly not Royal Navy; nor is the unusual "house" flag, one would have expected the more mundane naval signal flags. There are other instances where a straightforward merchant ship portrait wears a white ensign, the master having been ex Royal Navy or on half pay as was the original patron of the picture.
The armed brig is shown in two positions, approaching on the left, then 'hove to' into the wind centrally, receiving a boat alongside. On the right is an armed cutter (single mast) with a blue ensign. An interesting point is the double gaffed fore and aft sail on the Brig's main mast. This gaff topsail appears to feature frequently in Scottish vessels of this period. The gaff top sail is brailed up in the main view and explains the puzzling irregular mass of canvas blowing out to port in the left hand view; prior to bundling it up neatly along the mast as in the central view.
At the time of the execution of the picture, Salmon was resident in Greenock. The location of the painting is off little Cumbrae on the Clyde. The mass of land behind the central subject is Arran which has some mountains including the centrally placed Goat Fell. The lighthouse just showing on the left is 'little Cumbrae Light' (Salmon did a painting so entitled) and the tip of the land on the right is the southern tip of Bute.
It has been suggested that the present painting may represent Martial and Tickler on the right, although there is a disparity in the number of guns. It is feasible though that some of the guns on our Brig are dummies. We can be sure that it is not a regular fighting navy vessel, despite the white ensign. The crew are too few and the top-hatted figure is certainly not Royal Navy; nor is the unusual "house" flag, one would have expected the more mundane naval signal flags. There are other instances where a straightforward merchant ship portrait wears a white ensign, the master having been ex Royal Navy or on half pay as was the original patron of the picture.
The armed brig is shown in two positions, approaching on the left, then 'hove to' into the wind centrally, receiving a boat alongside. On the right is an armed cutter (single mast) with a blue ensign. An interesting point is the double gaffed fore and aft sail on the Brig's main mast. This gaff topsail appears to feature frequently in Scottish vessels of this period. The gaff top sail is brailed up in the main view and explains the puzzling irregular mass of canvas blowing out to port in the left hand view; prior to bundling it up neatly along the mast as in the central view.
At the time of the execution of the picture, Salmon was resident in Greenock. The location of the painting is off little Cumbrae on the Clyde. The mass of land behind the central subject is Arran which has some mountains including the centrally placed Goat Fell. The lighthouse just showing on the left is 'little Cumbrae Light' (Salmon did a painting so entitled) and the tip of the land on the right is the southern tip of Bute.