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Waiting for the Skipper

Painting
1871 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Edwin Bale (1838-1923) seems to have tried to depict poorer children more realistically than some of his contemporaries did. In this case the boy's working clothes are only picturesque in the sense that their textures and colours make a convincing element in the composition of the painting. And while the boy may only be waiting for the skipper (master of the boat) in normal circumstances, the title and the stormy background acknowledge the uncertainties of life in fishing communities, where many families have waited in vain for the skipper and his crew to come home safely from a trip to sea

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWaiting for the Skipper (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour
Brief description
Watercolour painting 'Waiting for the Skipper' by Edwin Bale, painted in England in 1871
Physical description
The painting is of portrait proportions and shows a boy seated on a stretch of turf leading to a beach, with a stormy sea and sky in the background. He has short fair fair and grey-blue eyes, and is barefooted. He wears a blue sou'wester, patched and rolled up drab-coloured trousers with braces, and a teal-coloured jumper over a white shirt with a red print neckerchief. He is leaning on a heap of equipment which includes a basket, fishing nets and a small red keg, and is holding a length of net cord in his true left hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 67cm
  • (framed) width: 55cm
  • (framed) depth: 3.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
E.BALE.1871 (Signature; date; lower right corner; writing; paint)
Credit line
Dixon Bequest
Subject depicted
Summary
Edwin Bale (1838-1923) seems to have tried to depict poorer children more realistically than some of his contemporaries did. In this case the boy's working clothes are only picturesque in the sense that their textures and colours make a convincing element in the composition of the painting. And while the boy may only be waiting for the skipper (master of the boat) in normal circumstances, the title and the stormy background acknowledge the uncertainties of life in fishing communities, where many families have waited in vain for the skipper and his crew to come home safely from a trip to sea
Collection
Accession number
1167-1886

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2004
Record URL
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