Fishing Boats at Anchor, Boulogne, France

The present drawing relates to a series of sheets by Bonington made at Rouen circa 1821-2, all depicting shipping at the quayside and harbour life. A furled Tricolore ensign is just visible on the ship in the foreground, and Patrick Noon has identified the harbour to be that at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Bonington visited Normandy for the first time in 1821 and in April the following year exhibited at the Salon for the first time, showing two watercolours from the trip, which was formative in his artistic practice.