The Tyne Ferry, The South Shields Ferry Boat

Unlike lots 42 and 56 which are full scale studies this drawing is very loose and is clearly meant only as a sketch, more of an aide-memoire than the basis for a major painting. The actual ferry boat, pointed directly at the viewer, looms powerfully out of the water with its rather intimidating symmetry while the drawing of the other, lesser and less detailed ships is in fact quite perfunctory.

On the other hand, when viewed next to lot 50, the full-scale painting, the sketch seems to grow in importance even though it cannot, indeed, does not even try to represent the full turbulence of both sky and sea.

T.G.R.