Frank Henry Mason - M.T. "Amity" passing Dubh Artach Lighthouse

Frank Henry Mason is predominantly known for his seascape paintings and following in the footsteps of leading artists such as William Lionel Wyllie and Charles Napier Hemy. His early style is similar to Thomas Bush Hardy especially his watercolours. 
 
We have two later oil paintings available for sale by Mason that were commissions from F.T. Everand and Sons, of the Wharf, Greenhithe, to portray ships from their fleet. These were part of a long running set of works for the company that the artist painted from 1943 until 1964. In fact, Edward Yardley (in his biography on Mason) says that he completed the paintings for F.T. Everand in groups of 'twelve for inclusion in their advertisements that appeared on the back cover of the monthly periodical Sea Breezes, and reproduced in colour on the company's annual calendar and on their Christmas cards. This was continual and tiring work which involved painting to deadlines, location visits, and even a voyage to Norway and back on an Everand ship. His last Everard 'portrait' was painted in 1964 and published in January 1965, by then he had delivered over 180 paintings to the company.' [1]
 
This painting depicts F.T. Everard's crude oil tanker AMITY which was built in 1945 in Sunderland. It was originally built for war service and had the name EMPIRE TEDASSA before being purchased by Everard. Mason's painting of the ship depicts in passing the Dubh Artach Lighthouse on the west coast of Scotland. The lighthouse was designed by Thomas Stevenson with a tower height of 145 feet and was built between 1867 and 1872. The seas around the lighthouse can be very stormy with waves exceeding 92 feet being possible. It had keepers until 1971 when it became automated. 

Please note, that this painting comes with an original postcard by F.T. Everard that depicts this painting (see photos).
 
Medium: Oil on board, signed  l.l. 'FRANK H MASON',  30 x 40cm, framed (42 x 53cm). 
 
Provenance: Family descent from the artist.
 
Literature: 
 
[1]  Edward Yardley, ' Frank Henry Mason: Marine Painter and Poster Artist', Colley Books: 2015, p. 50.
 
Condition report: generally very good. Some of the paint is a bit thin in places and there are a few small time staining markings on the painting (please see photos). The oil is protected by glass and the frame has some losses.