Vessels under sail off Dover

Although not strictly accurate in topographical terms, this oil painting shows Dover Castle from the sea with vessels lying off the White Cliffs in calm conditions. The town and harbour are included below the cliffs on the far left, unrealistically out of scale. The principal ship is a small Royal Naval frigate flying the pre-1801 red ensign, with a hoy alongside: another hoy is in the foreground. These vessels were typical supply or passenger-carrying coastal vessels. This is one of a number of paintings bequeathed to Greenwich Hospital in 1919 by Dr Ernest Wyndham Cottle, a former army surgeon.

Object Details

ID: BHC4216
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: English School, 17th century; English School British School
Date made: 17th century; circa 1800
People: Cottle, Ernest Wyndham
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection
Measurements: Painting: 533 mm x 610 mm; Frame: 530 cm x 625 cm