Montague Dawson
1895-1973 | British

Battle in the Atlantic

Signed "Montague Dawson" (lower left)
Oil on canvas

Widely regarded as the 20th-century master of maritime painting, Montague Dawson was also the Official English Naval Artist of World War II. Not only did he excel at capturing the grandeur and power of ships at sea, but his wartime compositions also brought to life the drama of battle. This commanding work reflects his mastery over his preferred subject. Executed in grayscale, the oil depicts a United States Victory ship — a class of American cargo ships — under attack by a German U-boat. The artist's penchant for photorealism and knowledge of naval vessels is fully illustrated in the work, while its palette is a reflection on the gravity of war.

The son of a yachtsman and grandson of the marine painter Henry Dawson (1811-1878), Montague Dawson spent much of his childhood on Southampton Water where he was able to indulge his interest in the study of ships. Naturally gifted at drawing and painting, the self-taught Dawson became a member of an art studio group in Bedford Row, London. By the age of 15, he was working on posters and illustrations to earn a living. For a brief period around 1910, Dawson worked for a commercial art studio in London, but with the outbreak of World War I, he joined the Royal Navy. While serving in the Navy in Falmouth, he met Charles Napier Hemy (1841-1917), who had a considerable influence on his work. Dawson was present at the final surrender of the German Grand Fleet and many of his illustrations depicting the event were published in The Sphere.

After the War, Dawson established himself as a professional marine artist, concentrating on historical subjects and portraits of deep-water sailing ships, often in full sail or on high seas. During the Second World War, he was employed as a war artist and again worked for The Sphere, where the present work was published. Dawson exhibited regularly at the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Academy from 1917 to 1936. By the 1930s, he was considered the greatest living marine artist. His patrons included two American Presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as the British Royal Family. Near the end of his life, it was believed that Dawson was the highest paid painter in the world, second only to Pablo Picasso.

Circa 1944-46