The North Pacific from the 'Umberleigh'

A sketch in the North Pacific, from the 'Umberleigh'. It shows the effects of the sun on sea and sky. The outline of land is visible in the distance on the right. Everett has used colour and form to achieve his desired effect. The sky is bathed in a brilliant light and above the horizon the sky is a range of different shades. Tones of pink are shown on the left and on the right above the land. Yellow tones are shown in layers, closest to the sun, with lilac and mauve streaks of paint to represent clouds. The paint thickens higher in the sky and is streaked with vivid yellow paint. The calm sea is painted as a flat layer of mid-blue, darkening towards the horizon, and the reflections of the sun's rays float brilliant tones of paint on the surface of the water. Everett sailed in the steamer, 'Umberleigh', from Barry, Wales, to Vancouver, Canada, in December 1933 and returned in March 1934. Everett later observed that, four days out from Barry, they saw the sun every day of the trip as far as the Panama Canal. This meant that there was plenty of colour, light and effects for him to capture in paint. However once they passed through the Canal the weather deteriorated the closer they got to Vancouver. Apart from the oil paintings made on this voyage, Everett also produced 75 watercolour sketches of the Panama Canal.

Object Details

ID: BHC0185
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Everett, (Herbert Barnard) John
Vessels: Umberleigh 1927
Date made: 1934-1935; 1934-35
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Bequeathed by the artist 1949.
Measurements: Painting: 178 mm x 254 mm