- Artist
- John Hoppner 1758–1810
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 1321 × 1829 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by L. Lesser 1911
- Reference
- N02765
Display caption
John Hoppner was one of the leading portraitists of his day. When he exhibited this painting at the Royal Academy in 1794, it would have stood out to exhibition-goers as a highly unusual subject for the artist. Indeed, this is the only work Hoppner is known to have exhibited that wasn’t a portrait. We think the stormy seascape is set just off St Catherine’s Point in the Isle of Wight, an area known for its dangerous waters. The painting gave Hoppner an opportunity to show off his expressive brushwork and his ability to convey drama and narrative. Capturing a sense of the artistic competition of the time, one critic remarked: ‘The present aggression is incontestably bold, and well executed, and should be rewarded with a booty of reputation.’
Gallery label, February 2024
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