Lot 43: Alma Claude Burlton Cull (British, 1880-1931) 'Cowes'

'Cowes'
signed 'A.B. Cull' and dated '09 (lower left), signed and inscribed on label on reverse
watercolour heightened with white
23.5 x 44.8cm (9 1/4 x 17 5/8in).

A highly regarded marine painter and favourably compared to William Lionel Wyllie, Cull was patronised by King Edward VII and commissioned by the Prince of Wales to paint 'Send out your big Warships to watch your big Waters' (his 1912 Royal Academy exhibit). Cull died at Lee-on-Solent in January 1931 after which his widow placed most of his oil paintings into storage in Portsmouth. Sadly, the entire collection was destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War. After his widow's death in 1954, the National Maritime Museum bought the two remaining oil paintings and seventy watercolours from her estate. As a result, pictures by this very gifted artist very rarely come on to the open market. The last major works to come on to the market were a pair of oil paintings, depicting the Second Battle Squadron, 1914, which sold in these rooms 12th August 1992, lot 584 (£24,000 hammer price).