Attributed to William Shayer (1787-1879), an early 19th century oil painting on canvas of a coastal scene, with two figures and a spaniel around a boat on the shore and under outcropping cliffs, and further vessels out to sea with more figures on the shore as well as another dog, with many seagulls all under a partly cloudy morning sky, framed in a contemporary swept and moulded giltwood frame. There is a remnant of a label on the stretcher, see photos. English, circa 1820.
Canvas size: 30 x 41 cm (12” x 16”)
Condition: Overall very good, the canvas has at some point in the recent past been relined and the painting cleaned, the frame has been lightly cleaned, there are some small losses to the mouldings consistent with age. Overall the painting has a very pleasing appearance and character.
William Shayer was born in Southampton in 1787, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Shayer, and his early life appears to have been spent painting designs onto furniture, later working for a coachbuilder in Guildford painting heraldic designs. Aside from this he seems to have been self taught as an artist. He married Sarah Earle in Chichester on the 13th September 1810, the couple lived in Southampton and had five children, including William, their eldest, who went on to paint. Shayer was able to support his family working as an artist by 1820, specialising in a wide variety of rural landscapes and marine paintings; he also exhibited at the Royal Academy. His works are exhibited in several galleries around the United Kingdom, including his home city of Southampton, as well as Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham, the Tate Britain in London, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington, London.
Measurements:
Height = 49 cm (19”)
Width = 59 cm (23”)