Lot 247: Cathcart William METHVEN South African 1849-1925

Cathcart William METHVEN South African 1849-1925 Cape of Good Hope from the Sea signed and dated 1906 oil on canvas 70 by 105cm

PROVENANCE The Hulett family
LITERATURE Nigel Hughes, Views in Colonial Natal, Craighall, 2005, pages 58 and 59, illustrated in colour "Cape Point is viewed here from the west, with Cape Hangklip in the distance. The original Cape Point lighthouse of 1860 is just visible on the higher of the peaks forming the headland. It was replaced in 1910 by today's lighthouse which is nearer sea level. The earlier light was often obscured by fog, a factor which accounted for some major shipwrecks in the vicinity in the early 1900s. In the foreground a topsail schooner stands out to sea while a Rennie's Aberdeen Direct Line steamer continues on her voyage direct from London to Port Natal. These comfortable steamers of the turn of the century were competition to the Union-Castle liners, and offered a non-stop advantage to Natal colonists as they bypassed all the Cape ports. Rennie's sold their ships to Thos. & Jas. Harrison of Liverpool in 1911. One may surmise that Methven was documenting the passing of the sailing vessel in this oil. The schooner is obliged to beat out to sea to make Cape Point while the steamer will spare no time in rounding the point."