Watercolor Representing A Brig Off The Coast Of Marseille Signed Pellegrin Dated 1854

Watercolor depicting a brig under full sail sailing off the coast of Marseille.

3 flags and 9 sailors on board, one of whom is observing through a spyglass.

In the lower part it is written: "Brig Marina of Dundee, Capt. James Melville, entering Marseilles, November 1854" and signed lower right by Joseph Honoré Maxime Pellegrin.

In its original burl frame with gilt rods.

Note:

- The brig, a two-masted ship, was very common in the 19th century for maritime trade. Appreciated for its speed and maneuverability, it was commonly used on the routes linking Scotland to the Mediterranean. At that time, Dundee was one of the most dynamic ports in Scotland, known for its exports of jute, linen, whisky and various industrial products. In November 1854, the date on which this scene takes place, the port of Marseille was experiencing intense activity, partly due to the Crimean War. Many merchant ships then ensured the transport of troops, equipment, food or mail between the United Kingdom (England and Scotland) and the Mediterranean ports, in particular the French military bases.

-Joseph Honoré Maxime Pellegrin (1793–1869), official painter of the Navy from Marseille, was renowned in the 19th century for the precision and realism of his naval representations. A former naval officer, he put to the service of his art a deep technical knowledge of ships and navigation.

Dimensions of the frame: 61 cm long x 48 cm high.

France dated 1854.