Mediterranean Coast Scene

Location

Country: Czech Republic
City: Prague
Place: British Embassy

This is one of a number of unidentified Mediterranean coastal scenes, probably not based on a single location, by artist Nicholas Pocock. It was most likely executed many years after Pocock went to the Mediterranean, and drawn from sketches made in a log book, which he kept when in command of the merchant ship, the ‘Betsey’. On the ‘Betsey’, Pocock undertook an eventful voyage to the Mediterranean in 1770, during which he experienced very rough weather and lost one of his crew.

This painting is one of several examples of Pocock’s work in oils. Lacking any formal training, he acquired a remarkable control of the technical aspects of oil painting, although he was more prolific as a watercolour painter.

Nicholas Pocock was born in Bristol; the son of a merchant. He went to sea at a young age and commanded ships belonging to Richard Champion, the first producer of Bristol porcelain. In 1780 he sent a picture to the Royal Academy too late to be included in the exhibition. Two years later, two landscapes and two marine paintings by Pocock were accepted by the Academy and thereafter he exhibited there every year until 1812. In 1789 Pocock moved to London, where he quickly won popularity with naval clients, recording their actions at sea. He briefly returned to sea with the Fleet in 1794. From then, Pocock found employment recording actions of the French Wars. He also produced six paintings illustrating ‘The Life of Nelson’ (published in 1809).

Places

Mediterranean Sea

Subjects

rowing boat, sailor (civilian), barrel, smoking pipe, topography, genre, seascape/coastal scene, grass, tree, seagull, mountain, hill, stone/rock, shore, man, woman, robe, turban, family, child, ensign (ship), flag, cannon, bollard, tower, ship, anchor

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Nicholas Pocock (1740 - 1821)

Title

Mediterranean Coast Scene

Date

1802

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 96.00 cm, width: 131.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Frank T Sabin, June 1963

Inscription

sdbr

Provenance

With Sabin Gallery; from whom purchased by the Ministry of Works in June 1963

GAC number

6130