Le Croisic

A dramatic sketch of waves breaking on the shore at Le Croisic, using colour to create the effect. The waves break in a horizontal band across the foreground, and, using short brush strokes, Everett has painted them as thick patches of colour, varying between deep purple and bright green. He has captured the effect of the sun low in the middle of the picture towards the horizon. The sky is loosely painted with purple and blue clouds contrasting with the lighter cream clouds and the vivid slash of yellow. The shallows in the foreground are shown as small slashes of colour, picking up the brilliance of the sun in the reflections. During December 1921 Everett stayed at the Fort de L'Ocean hotel, Le Croisic, near Saint-Nazaire, in the Loire-Atlantique. The hotel was positioned above the rocks and afforded a panoramic view of the sea. He was the only person staying in the hotel, and from his vantage point in the glass verandah, he was able to see the sun rise and set over the Atlantic. Everett befriended the skipper of a four-masted barque, 'Hagomont', and frequently sailed in her to Saint-Nazaire. He made other short trips in her to visit fishing ports such as Piriac, Pamic and Nantes. Everett produced a large number of paintings during his stay here, demonstrating his painterly concerns with the effects of light on the sea and sky. The painting is inscribed 'Le C' verso.

Object Details

ID: BHC0068
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Everett, (Herbert Barnard) John
Date made: 1921; 1928
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Bequeathed by the artist 1949.
Measurements: Painting: 254 mm x 355 mm