1842
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Bay of Aden is a 1842 watercolor by Robert Moresby, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows a quiet bay with small boats and ships floating on calm water. In the distance, a rocky shore rises, dotted with a few buildings and trees. The artist used light pencil strokes to sketch the waves, birds, and vessels, keeping everything soft and muted. The tiny signature notes it’s the *Bay of Aden*, drawn in 1842. The scene feels peaceful but also a little lonely—just a few people scattered across the water. Want to see more? Check out the *Victoria and Albert Museum* for their full collection.
A watercolour drawing titled *Bay of Aden* was created by Captain Robert Moresby in 1842, likely during a voyage to India following the British capture of Aden by Stafford Bettesworth Haines. The work reflects a historical maritime context, possibly documenting the region’s coastal features. It later appeared in a Sotheby’s sale in 1977, where it was purchased for £66.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Captain Robert Moresby was a British naval officer, hydrographer and surveyor who served in the Bombay Marine and Indian Navy.
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