William Adolphus Knell

William Adolphus Knell, Sen. (London c.1808-1875) A paddle steamer of the Royal Navy escorting a French squadron through the Downs on their way to the Baltic during the Crimean War, probably in April 1854; and The Baltic fleet, under the command of Rear-Admiral the Hon. Richard Saunders Dundas, C.B., leaving Spithead, 1855, for the Baltic during the Crimean War (both illustrated) the first signed 'W.A. Knell. Sen r ' (lower right); the second signed 'W.A. Knell' (lower right) oil on canvas 13¼ x 24 in. (33.6 x 61 cm.) a pair (2) The Baltic Campaign was the decisive campaign in the Russian War, also known as the Crimean War. After bombarding Bomarsund in 1854 and Sveaborg in 1855 and a reconnaissance of Cronstadt, the Anglo-French fleet threatened to return in 1856 to reduce the Russian capital of St Petersburg. It was this application of maritime strategy in the Baltic, rather than the bloody land battles in the Crimea, which brought the war to an end. Rear-Admiral the Hon. Richard Saunders Dundas, C.B. (1802-1861) was appointed to command the fleet in the Baltic in 1855 and is seen here in his flagship, H.M.S. Duke of Wellington (centre). For the first time all the ships of a British fleet, over sixty vessels, were equipped with steam engines and capable of manoeuvring without sail. The French fleet was commanded by Vice-Admiral Alexandre-Ferdinand Parseval-Deschenes (1790-1860) with Rear-Admiral Charles-Eugène Penaud (1800-1864) as second-in-command.

William Adolphus Knell (c.1808-1875) A merchantman preparing to leave her anchorage amidst othershipping off Leith, with a panorama of Edinburgh beyond signed 'W.A. Knell. Senr' (lower right) oil on canvas 22¾ x 42¼ in. (60.4 x 107.3 cm.) Lot Notes Leith has been the port for Scotland's capital city for manycenturies and, despite the traditional rivalry between the twocommunities, it was finally absorbed into a wider Edinburgh in1920. When the work offered here was painted however, it was stilla tough and independent seafaring town which enjoyed considerabletrade in its own right with northern Europe as well as with theeastern coasts of both England and Scotland. In the mid-nineteenthcentury, it boasted paint, rope, sails, marble and sugar among itsmain industrial activities and steamers plied regularly to London,Hull, Newcastle, the north of Scotland, Hamburg and Rotterdam.Against a topographical backdrop of Edinburgh's natural landmarks,namely Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill, Castle Rock and Salisbury Crags,Knell has portrayed Leith just as it was in its heyday, a bustlingcommercial port which attracted shipping of all types, large andsmall, sail and steam. Although it cannot be confirmed absolutely, it seems highlyprobable that this is the work entitled 'Edinburgh from the Sea'which W.A. Knell exhibited at the British Institution in 1836 (no.125, 27 x 48ins. incl. frame).

WILLIAM ADOLPHUS KNELL (1805-1875) - THE ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OFF GRAVESEND, 1863 -
Mis:
signed l.r.: W. A. Knelloil on canvas

CATALOGUE NOTE
The present work depicts the scene at Gravesend on 7th March 1863 when Princess Alexandra of Denmark arrived in England prior to her wedding to Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Victoria. The Princess had sailed on board the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert which was escorted across the North Sea by a squadron of British Ships including Admiral Smart's flagship Revenge as well as the frigates Warrior, Resistance and Defence. The efforts made to welcome Alexandra are evident in the present work and the Royla Wedding took place three days later.

William Adolphus Knell British, 1805-1875 SHIPPING SCENE Signed Adolphus Knell (lr) Oil on board laid to cradled panel 12 x 18 1/4 inches Estimate $800-1,200 Very dirty, yellowed varnish. Frame rubbing. Small crease inlower right corner. Board is not fully adhered to the panel.Nailhole with inpainting at right center edge. Light scatteredcraquelure. There has been some scattered painting flaking at theright center, with inpainting - not heavy flaking. 2 inch scratchwith inpainting at lower right center. Few scratches at lower leftcorner - difficult to detect. Small spot of inpainting at uppercenter. One inch crack or repaired tear at upper right edge.Difficult to detect further restoration under UV light through thevarnish.

William Adolphus Knell British, 1805-1875 EARLY MORNING SHIPPING Signed Adolphus Knell/1883 (lr), inscribed indistinctly onthe reverse Early Morning...the Dow... Oil on panel 5 x 12 inches (12.7 x 30.5 cm.) Estimate $1,000-1,500 Dirty varnish. Frame rubbing. Scattered areas of paintseparation. No apparent restoration.