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Lot Essay
Throughout Stock’s career, he drew inspiration from a wide variety of literary sources such as the Bible, Dante, and mythological narratives. His interest in mythological narratives is evidenced by the mermaid in the present lot.
The work relates closely to another of Stock’s watercolours Fire and the Sea (sold in these Rooms, 11 July 2018, lot 54), which features a very similarly posed mermaid against a rocky outcrop. Curiously, Fire and the Sea is dated to 1912, whilst Mermaid Rising from the Sea, is dated in Stock’s hand to 1930, the year of his death.
However, the artist is known to have signed and dated works which had remained in his studio in the last year of his life, despite them having been painted at earlier dates. Therefore, it is possible that this watercolour was actually conceived circa 1912, alongside Fire and the Sea.
The work relates closely to another of Stock’s watercolours Fire and the Sea (sold in these Rooms, 11 July 2018, lot 54), which features a very similarly posed mermaid against a rocky outcrop. Curiously, Fire and the Sea is dated to 1912, whilst Mermaid Rising from the Sea, is dated in Stock’s hand to 1930, the year of his death.
However, the artist is known to have signed and dated works which had remained in his studio in the last year of his life, despite them having been painted at earlier dates. Therefore, it is possible that this watercolour was actually conceived circa 1912, alongside Fire and the Sea.