Bow View of Cutty Sark

A large and dramatic evocation of the bow of the 'Cutty Sark', showing a carved figurehead. In this highly stylised painting the ship is shown moving through the waves at sunset. The sails of the ship loom above the viewer's point of vision. The figurehead represents a character from Robert Burns's poem 'Tam O'Shanter', which retales the story of a Scottish farmer who was chased by the young witch. Known as Nannie, she is shown wearing a short chemise, also called a cutty sark, from which the name of the ship was taken. Everett evokes the art deco in this highly stylised and formulaic painting. The crests of the waves are reduced to a series of white blocks on the horizon, reminiscent of Japanese prints. The sun, in thick impasto paint, glows orange on the horizon and the sails are outlined and painted as blocks of colour. The 'Cutty Sark' was one of the most famous merchant sailing ships of the 19th century.
Artist: John Everett
Date: 1930s
+ Read more - Show less