Pair of Louis XIV marines, attributed to Claude Joseph Vernet (Avignon, 1714 – Paris, 1789), and frames in gilt bronze attributed to Nicolas Delaunay (1646-1727), from the collection of Sir Thomas Hughes Neave (1874-1940), 5th Baronet; then of his wife, Lady Dorina Lockhart Neave (1880-1955), born Clifton, in Dagnam Park, Essex, UK.
Marine A: “The Storm: fisherman shipwrecked on the shore”
Oil on silver leaf glued on wood: H. 9.1 cm. (3 ½ in.); W. 11.4 cm. (4 ½ in.).
Gilt bronze frame: Total H. with ring: H. 23.8 cm. (9 ½ in.); H. 20.5 cm. (8 in.); W. 22.3 cm. (8 ¾ in.).
Number and date handwritten in black ink visible on the reverse of the panel: N° 3 (?) / 14 mars 1815 (?)
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: Vernet pinxit, old mention handwritten in black ink visible on the reverse of the frame/Kenelm Digby Neave/1940, handwritten mentions very finely engraved on the reverse of the frame (perhaps the trace left by a handwritten label stuck on the reverse of the frame and now lost).
Marine B: “Fishermen at sunset”
Oil on gold leaf glued on wood: H. 9 cm. (3 ½ n.); W. 11.4 cm. (4 ½ in.).
Gilt bronze frame: Total H. with ring: H. 23.6 cm. (9 ¼ in.); H. 20.4 cm. (8 in.); W. 22.2 cm. (8 ¾ in.).
Number in black ink visible on the reverse of the panel: N° 3 (?).
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: For F. C N j / F N (?)/Vernet pinxit, old mentions handwritten in black ink visible on the reverse of the frame; property of Kenelm […]/Presented by his mother/Dorina Lady Neave in 1940, handwritten mentions very finely engraved on the reverse of the frame (perhaps the trace left by a handwritten label stuck on the reverse of the frame and now lost).
PROVENANCE: very likely collection f Sir Richard Neave (1731-1814), 1st Baronet, in Dagnam Park, Essex, or of his eldest son, Sir Thomas Neave (1761-1848), 2nd Baronet; then his descendants; collection of Sir Thomas Hughes Neave (1874-1940), 5th Bt; collection of his wife, Lady Dorina Lockhart Neave (1880-1955), née Clifton; then collection of their Kenelm Digby Neave (1921-2007).
LITERATURE: John Grant (ed.), Essex Historical Biographical and Pictorial, London, 1914, published by “The London And Provincial Publishing Co, Ltd”, p. 412-414.
