Sir John Lavery, R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A. (1856-1941)

Lavery’s hilltop studio at Tangier gave him unparalleled views of the Straits of Gibraltar, and on clear days, as in the present sparkling sketch, he could see the hills of Southern Spain. For many years he studied this view, and in the numerous accounts he made of windy sunlit days, the shimmering sea, its luminescence, its harmonies of azure and ultramarine, never ceased to fascinate him.

Works of this type began to be produced around 1905 and continued until 1920, with a break during the war years, when patrolling U-boats made the annual pilgrimage too dangerous. And while the topography remains consistent, the climate and passing ships – from Arab dhows to P liners – provide endless variation. In the early months of 1914 for instance, in a brief moment of unrest, French gunboats are pictured in the bay, as depicted in French Gunboats, Tangier Bay (sold in these Rooms, 11 June 2003, lot 20).

Palette and handling suggest that the present work, which contains at least one naval vessel, may date from this year, or from immediately after the conclusion of hostilities, circa 1919-20.

KMc.