Francis Holman, British 1729-1784- Three views... Lot 168

Francis Holman, British 1729-1784- Three views of a British Mail Packet in the Downs off Deal; oil on canvas, signed and dated 'F. Holman / 1766' (lower left), 99 x 149.8 cm. Provenance: (Possibly) Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe (1796-1870), Penn House, Buckinghamshire. with W.B. Sabin, London. Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 2 June 1938, lot 131 (21 gns. to Brockhark [?]). Anon. sale, Bonhams, Knightsbridge, 12 December 1991, lot 104. with Lane Fine Art, London. Note: Holman was born in Ramsgate, the son of a sailor, and his output consisted principally of depictions of ships off the Kent coastline, much like the present work, set off the shore at Deal. The present work, illustrating the same vessel from three different angles, exhibits the artist's highly detailed, precise approach, also evident in his painting of 'The East Indiaman "Nottingham" in three positions off Fort St. George' which sold at Bonhams, London, on 15 January 1998 (lot 141) for £80,000. Holman is also known as the teacher of the marine artist Thomas Luny (1759-1837).