Montague Dawson (British, 1890–1973) The Navy Takes a Chance (April 19, 1944)

Note

The grandson of maritime painter Henry Dawson, British painter Montague Dawson was born in London in 1890 with the sea already in his blood. The younger Dawson served in the Royal Navy during World War I, and again in World War II as a war artist. His work from this time was published in both newspapers and magazines, most notably "The Sphere", where his numerous depictions of the German surrender during WWI earned him notoriety. Dawson's experience of the sea is visible in his finely rendered ship portraits. He also enjoyed recreating, most often in harmonies and greys and soft whites, naval battles from the WWII. Unparalleled as an observer and recorder of all manner of ships, few 20th century painters were as skilled or highly regarded in the genre of marine art.

The present work depicts British coast forces engaging an enemy convoy off the Dutch coast. In the center foreground is the British torpedo-boat while in the distance, one can spot the three enemy tankers. The escrot vessel is seen, bow on, to the right. The result will be the sinking of a large auxiliary vessel, important damages to a medium sized tanker, and an escort ship set on fire.

Provenance

Tolford Galleries, Chicago, Illinois (per stamp verso).

Private Collection, Massachusetts.