~ Framed Watercolour Of A Solent Fort ~
A nicely painted watercolour depicting one of the Palmerston sea forts which lie off the coast of Portsmouth.
The Palmerston Forts that encircle Portsmouth were built in response to the 1859 Royal Commission dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the Dockyard in Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth defences can be split into four distinct groups of forts, comprising four sea forts built in the Solent, a group of forts on Portsea Island, a group of forts along Portsdown Hill overlooking Portsmouth, and a group of forts on the Gosport peninsula.
The watercolour depicts one of the four sea forts that lie in the Solent.
The fort is seen in the middle ground with sailing boats, with land in the background and shoreline to the foreground.
The fort in question could quite possibly be St Helens Fort as seen from the shore on the Isle Of Wight.
The painting is not signed or named.
The painting comes in a glazed modern frame.
~ Dimensions ~
The painting measures 21cm (8 ¼ inches) by 26cm (10 ¼ inches).
The frame measures 43cm (17 inches) by 48cm (19 inches).
It weighs 1.75 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The painting is in a very nice condition. There are one or two tiny brown spots but these are barely noticeable.
There is a slight mark along the upper edge where the painting has shifted slightly in the mount.
The frame is in good order with just a couple of small chips.
