William Callow (1812-1908) - Fishing boats on the coast of France

William Callow first went to France in 1827 to work under Thales Fielding until 1829. He then went to Paris where was under the Swiss artist Osterwald and also worked for Newton Fielding. 'He briefly returned to London for six months but in 1831 he was back in Paris where he shared a studio with Thomas Shotter Boys and thus came under the influence of Richard Parkes Bonington. In 1834 he took over the studio from Boys and built a large and profitable teaching practice among the French nobility.' [1] He finally returned to live in England in 1841 after being elected A.O.W.S in 1839. 
 
Callow regularly travelled to the continent on sketching trips and this watercolour is a great example of his work from the French coast. It appears to be a scene from northern France, so it is likely to depict Normandy or Brittany. It is very much in the style of Bonington and looks similar to works by Charles Bentley who Callow learnt from in the early 1820s. The scene shows fishing boats being loaded ready to go out. It is very reminiscent of English coast scenes from this period. This watercolour is highly detailed and superb example of Callow's skill as a watercolorist with scratching out. It was sold by Sotheby's in 1986.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper over pencil heightened with gum arabic and scratching out, signed l.l. 'W. Callow', 24 x 31 cm, framed (42 x 49.5cm).
 
Provenance: Sotheby's 'Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century British Drawings and Watercolours' sale, 13th March 1986, lot 139.
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] Huon Mallieu (2002), 'The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume I A-L', Antique Collectors Club: Woodbridge, pp.140-142. See entry on artist.
 
[2] H.M. Cundall (ed.), William Callow, An Autobiography, London (1908).
 
Condition report: generally very good for its age. A few very small scuffs and tears on the edge of the watercolour. Frame shows a bit of wear. Please see photos.