David Cox the Elder

Like many of his contemporaries, David Cox crossed the English

Channel and painted coastal landscapes along both its northern and

southern shores. This small study of a group of ships likely dates

from Cox’s third and final visit to the continent, during which he

executed numerous pictures of the principal pier of Calais and the

tall sailing vessels passing through the busy French port. For these

marine subjects, he used soft layers of pale wash to portray the calm

waters and foggy atmosphere of the harbor.