Canute ordering back the sea
Design
Late 1750s - early 1760s
Late 1750s - early 1760s
| Artist/Maker |
Circular design within a square border. King Canute sits on his throne surrounded by courtiers before the incoming sea. There are ships at sea in the left background and a castle in the right background. There are shells in the right foreground. The design is laid, next to a similar design E.636-1998 by George Michael Moser, onto a nineteenth century backing sheet inscribed 'Moser'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Canute ordering back the sea |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and grey ink and brown wash on laid paper. |
| Brief description | Circular design, in pen and ink and wash on laid paper, for gold chasing or enamel painting by George Michael Moser, late 1750s or early 1760s. |
| Physical description | Circular design within a square border. King Canute sits on his throne surrounded by courtiers before the incoming sea. There are ships at sea in the left background and a castle in the right background. There are shells in the right foreground. The design is laid, next to a similar design E.636-1998 by George Michael Moser, onto a nineteenth century backing sheet inscribed 'Moser'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Canute ye Dane after ye treacherous murder of Edmund Ironside thereby became Sole monarch of Britain being persuaded by his flatering (sic) Courtiers ty: (sic) even ye Elements were under his Command, to Convince them of their flattery Ordered his Chair to be placed on the Sea Shore, where being Seated in his Robes he commanded ye approaching tide not to wett (sic) the hem of his garment, the water advanced wherefore he Said the Crown he wore was only due to ye Almighty & accordingly deposited it in ye Cathedral of Canterbury, & never wore it after. - (Unknown; English; At the bottom of the piece of paper and beneath the cicular design.; pen; ink) |
| Object history | Bought at Sotheby's, 34-35 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA on April 8, 1998, lot 24. Historical significance: This and E.636-1998 are the are the only examples in Moser's work (graphic or executed) of British historical scenes. |
| Historical context | The subject of this design, King Canute ordering back the sea, concerns kingship suggesting that it was made in the late 1750s or early 1760s when the accession of George III (1760-1820) was inspiring great interest . |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.637-1998 |
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| Record created | May 14, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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