Montague Dawson R.S.M.A., F.R.S.A.

W. Russell Button, Chicago
Acquired from the above by the present owner in circa 1960

This painting is in excellent condition with no apparent issues under UV.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

'The Clippers were a race apart...lean with sharp bows, raked masts and a great cumulus of sail. They raced each other across the world's oceans, their captains were treated like today's superstars and their names became legendary. Fortunes were wagered on the result of races between them, which might last from Hong Kong to London or from New York round the Horn to San Francisco...setting sailing records that would last forever.' (Ron Ransom, The Maritime Paintings of Montague Dawson, Devon, 1993.)

Dawson dedicated the majority of his career to the depiction of the clippers that carried freight and passengers quickly and across vast distances during the nineteenth century. With his first hand knowledge of the sea he celebrates their beauty, grace, and speed like no other artist. Beneath crisp blue skies and skimming across churning seas, the clipper flies every inch of sail in conditions where most ships would be forced to take in sail. Sailing in this manner would push vessel and crew to the limit. The sails here are now being brought down as the cliffs appear on the horizon and the captain calls "Land Ho!"