Thomas Bush Hardy (1842-1897) - Off Deal

Thomas Bush Hardy's maritime works are instantly identifiable and this later work titled 'Off Deal' is an excellent example. The artist frequented the southern coast of England and Deal being located in Kent between Margate and Dover was used on at least several occasions for his compositions. There is a fishing boat fleet on the left hand side and two larger vessels anchored off the coast on the right. It clearly was a breezy day off Deal which Hardy has shown through movement in the sea and also in the sails of the boats. 
 
The artist has used scratching out to great effect on the waves and was a technique used by other maritime artists before him such as Clarkson Stanfield and Henry Barlow Carter.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper with scratching out, signed l.l. 'T. B. Hardy 1890 Off Deal', 20 x 35.7 cm, framed (42 x 58cm).
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] David Kirby-Welch and John Morton Lee (2009) Thomas Bush Hardy 1842-1897: Master Painter of Marine and Coastal Watercolours, Antique Collectors' Club: Woodbridge.
 
Condition report: generally good for its age. There is a bit of time fading and few small marks on the watercolour. The frame is likely to be the original and shows some wear. Please see photos.