The British ship Rover in a Heavy Storm by S.H.Bell

This powerful oil painting depicts the British ship ‘Rover’ being tossed about in very heavy seas. It is left to the viewer to determine when and if the masted ship will actually capsize. Dark stormy clouds are everywhere, and a spit of land can just be seen in the far background. The waves are so high that their sprays blow over the top of the ship. The painting is signed S.H. Bell and would date from the third quarter of the 19thC.

Stuart Henry Bell was born in Newcastle in 1823 and died in 1896. He started work as a scenery backdrop painter at an early age, working at many metropolitan and provincial theatres and was renowned for his marine backdrops. He later became a professional artist, primarily of marines and his marine paintings were particularly admired by Queen Victoria. He exhibited primarily in Newcastle and the surrounding area and scenes of Sunderland harbour became one of his favourite subjects. He was named ‘Marine painter to her most Gracious Majesty the Queen’.

Dimensions: Framed 22″H x 27″W x 3.5″D