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Lot Essay
Brett spent the summers of 1876 and 1877 on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, which he found a particularly fruitful sketching ground. In 1876 he rented Penolver Cottage at Bass Point, superbly situated high on the cliffs near the Lloyd's Signal Station. Close to the cottage was the little sandy inlet of Housel Cove, and there on 29th July he painted a 7 x 14 in. sketch from the beach, featuring the grandly piled headland of Pen Olver, which protects the cove on its eastern side (Private Collection).
During the following winter the present important work was painted in his studio from the sketch, and while keeping its basic form unchanged, Brett typically refined and enriched the detail. The dramatic effects of light and shade in the hornblende schist cliffs in the left foreground were exaggerated, and great care was taken to convey the texture of the barnacle-covered rocks; additional craft were added beyond the bay, including a steamer on the horizon, and the delightful feature of the gig with two men aboard about to be beached in the cove was introduced; while the majestic headland was bathed in glorious sunshine, in a manner reminiscent of Brett's earlier Massa, Bay of Naples (1863-4, now in the Indianapolis Museum of Art).
Housel Bay entered the important collection of the wool merchant David Price, who paid £200 for it. He was evidently pleased with his acquisition, as he later added four other works by the artist to his collection.
We are grateful to Charles Brett for his assistance in preparing this catalogue text.
During the following winter the present important work was painted in his studio from the sketch, and while keeping its basic form unchanged, Brett typically refined and enriched the detail. The dramatic effects of light and shade in the hornblende schist cliffs in the left foreground were exaggerated, and great care was taken to convey the texture of the barnacle-covered rocks; additional craft were added beyond the bay, including a steamer on the horizon, and the delightful feature of the gig with two men aboard about to be beached in the cove was introduced; while the majestic headland was bathed in glorious sunshine, in a manner reminiscent of Brett's earlier Massa, Bay of Naples (1863-4, now in the Indianapolis Museum of Art).
Housel Bay entered the important collection of the wool merchant David Price, who paid £200 for it. He was evidently pleased with his acquisition, as he later added four other works by the artist to his collection.
We are grateful to Charles Brett for his assistance in preparing this catalogue text.