This small signed sketch in oils suffers form have been erroneously described as a preparatory painting for 'The burning of the Ocean Monarch' at the Bootle Exhibition of the artist's works in 1959.
Superficially similar, there are very many differences. For example, the victim lacks the Ocean Monarch's distinctive figurehead, and the well known white hull band with painted gunports. A red pennant replaces the U.S.jack. In like manner the paddle steamer lacks the white paddle boxes and the distinctive Brazilian ensign of the Affonso.
Descending through the Walters family, and with undisputed continuous provenance, it predates the Ocean Monarch disaster at the 1843 Exhibition of the Liverpool Academy 'Ship on fire- sketch'. When regarded in its true light, as an imaginative study of the horrors of fire at sea, the striking similarities to the Ocean Monarch disaster merely vindicate the artist's detailed knowledge of his subject; this and his grasp of narrative marine painting making him appear almost clairvoyant. No other exhibited sketches by the artist ar known to exist.


Christie's are indebted to A.S.Davidson for his assistance in cataloguing this sketch