Samuel, Sam Bough

55. Samuel Bough RSA (1822-1878) The Dreadnought from Greenwich Stairs - Sun sinking into Vapour, gouache on canvas, signed Sam Bough, and dated 1861, lower left, 90 x 71cm (35 1/2 x 28 in). With echoes of Turner's 'Fighting Temeraire' of some 20 years previously, in both physical and atmospheric subject matter, this major work is one of Sam Bough's few southern harbour or maritime scenes. Born in the north of England, he had married and lived in Glasgow, before settling in Edinburgh in 1855, and it is with Scotland that his work is overwhelmingly associated. It records the last passage of the Royal Navy's Napoleonic era 98-gun man-of-war, HMS Dreadnought in 1857. Launched at Portsmouth in 1801, she formed part of the blockade of Cadiz in 1805 and then played an active part in the Battle of Trafalgar later that same year. Much of the rest of the war was spent in the English Channel and the Baltic. In 1827, Dreadnought was converted to a lazaretto, or quarantine ship, shortly before becoming a hospital ship in 1831.Although broken up in 1857, her importance in this last role saw the name endure, first in the replacement hospital ship, originally named Caledonia, then in the Seaman's Dreadnought Hospital, when the service was transferred to dry land at Greenwich, in 1870, and it still survives in the Dreadnought Unit at St Thomas's Hospital, which this later became. Provenance: with Moss Galleries, London; private collection.

Samuel Bough (Scottish, 1822 - 1878) Watercolor L4AMI A study for the work "Herring Boats Going To Sea After a Storm", which was exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1856. Exhibition tag affixed at the reverse. Also at the reverse is a tag that indicates an owner as Robert Horn, Esq. Original gilt gesso frame. Sight is 8" x 5", the frame 17" x 14". The painting appears to be in excellent condition, the frame has losses (we have some of the pieces) and has been resurfaced in gold paint. From a New York Collection.

Samuel Bough, RSA (British, 1822-1878) West Wemyss Harbour Fife signed and dated 'Sam Bough/1854' (lower left), further signed indistinctly (lower left) and inscribed 'West Wemyss Harbour Fife/arrival of fishing boats sunrise/Sam Bough/Ivy Bank/Port Glasgow' (on label attached to stretcher) oil on canvas 101.5 x 127.5 cm. (39 15/16 x 50 3/16 in.) EXHIBITED: Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy, 1877, no. 66 (lent by Thomas G. Taylor Esq.) Manchester, Royal Institution, 1877 Bough exhibited at least three pictures of the picturesque harbour of West Wemyss, and favoured the Fife coast more than any other sketching ground. Images of Dysart, Anstruther, St Monance and St Andrews are among his most celebrated works, and he sketched en plein air along the coast sheltered by a huge, weather-bleached and patchwork umbrella. He loved the Fife fisherfolk, with their superstitions, and was known to assume the Anstruther dialect despite being born in Carlisle. West Wemyss landed wood, iron and flax from the Baltic countries before the wet dock was added in the 1870s.

Lot 23 SAM BOUGH R.S.A., R.S.W. (BRITISH 1822-1878) THE PENTLAND HILLS Signed and dated 1873, inscribed, watercolour and bodycolour 26cm x 36cm (10in x 14in) Estimate £600-800 Note: The watercolour is inscribed "This drawing is given to be play'd for by the members of the Bruntsfield Links Golf Club with all good wishes from the donor, S.B." It was presented to the winner.

Back to catalogue Place Bid or Track Lot Lot No: 22 Samuel Bough, RSA (British, 1822-1878) The Bass Rock signed and dated 'Sam Bough 1869' (lower left) watercolour with white heightening 27 x 47.5 cm. (10 5/8 x 18 11/16 in.) Estimate: £1,000 - 1,500, € 1,200 - 1,800, US$ 1,600 - 2,400 To subscribe to or order a Printed Catalogue quote ref: 19863 Tel: +44 (0) 1666 502 200