A notable work, “The Castaways” painted by the celebrated marine artist, Montague Dawson RSMA, FRSA (1895-1973), is to be auctioned on the 15th October in Tennants Auctioneers’ Modern & Contemporary Art sale.
“The Castaways” represents one of Dawson’s rare South Sea paintings. He paints a picture that captures his fascination with all things nautical, including folktales of pirates, smugglers and “Castaways”. The ship sails into the horizon abandoning her two former crewmates who appear hopeless amid towering palm trees and deep blue waters. The picture is cinematic to say the least. As an image, it is an ocean away from Dawson’s more tightly painted marine pictures of mid-nineteenth century clipper ships, yet “The Castaways” is noteworthy for it uniquely offers us a rare glimpse into the playfulness and creativity of this great marine painter.
Considered one of the greatest marine artists of all time, Montague Dawson was the grandson of marine artist Henry Dawson (1811-1878) and son of a keen yachtsman. Much of Dawson’s childhood was spent in Southampton where he established a keen interest in the study of ships. It is not surprising therefore, that during World War One, Dawson served in the Royal Navy where he met celebrated seascape artist Charles Napier Hemy (1841–1917) who became his mentor. To this day, Dawson ‘remains a force in English marine painting’. Not least, because his work gained him prestigious patrons, such as Dwight D Eisenhower, Lyndon B Johnson, and the British Royal Family. Dawson regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and with Frost & Reed. He was a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and was also an official War artist during the Second World War.
