Who painted The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide?

The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide was painted by Alfred Herbert in 1850.

Where can I see The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide?

The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide?

The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide?

Museum-quality prints of The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide

Alfred Herbert , 1850

The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Alfred Herbert. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in gray-brown watercolor: Wm Callow; in later hand, lower right verso in pen and brown ink: aquafort

About this work

The Harbor of St. Malo at Low Tide is a watercolor painting. It was made around 1850. The artist used a mix of watercolor and gouache, which is a type of paint that's opaque and often used to add details.

This mix of techniques is interesting because it shows the artist's skill in combining different materials. Check out the work of Herbert, Alfred.

Overview

Alfred Herbert’s drawing of the harbor at St. Malo captures the scene at low tide. Executed on wove paper around 1850, the work combines watercolor washes with opaque gouache highlights, all laid over an initial graphite sketch.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents the quiet, exposed harbor of the French port, emphasizing the stillness of the receded water and the silhouettes of fishing vessels awaiting the tide. The muted palette underscores the atmospheric calm of the moment.

Technique & Style

Herbert employs a layered approach: a graphite underdrawing establishes form, watercolor provides transparent washes for sky and water, while gouache adds solid, opaque accents that define rigging and hull details. This interplay of media demonstrates his facility with both delicate and assertive marks.

History & Provenance

Born to a Thames waterman, Herbert left a boat‑building apprenticeship to become a painter. Between 1844 and 1860 he showed coastal subjects at the Society of British Artists and the Royal Academy, establishing his reputation for maritime scenes.

Context

The work reflects mid‑nineteenth‑century British interest in continental ports and the broader Romantic fascination with the sea. St. Malo’s tidal landscape offered a compelling study of light, water, and the working life of fishermen, themes recurrent in Herbert’s oeuvre.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Alfred Herbert

Alfred Herbert (1818-1861), was an English watercolour painter. Herbert was born in Christchurch area of Southwark the son of a Thames waterman, who apprenticed him to a boatbuilder, but, yielding to a strong natural…