Dandees in a Gale of Wind

1830

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Dandees in a Gale of Wind is a 1830 by Robert Captain Smith, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Robert Captain Smith
When & what style?: 1830 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This marine drawing depicts a dramatic scene of two sailboats navigating through rough waters. The boat in the foreground is positioned at an angle, with its sails billowing in the wind. In the background, a second boat is visible, although less detailed. The overall atmosphere of the drawing conveys a sense of turmoil and energy. The artist's use of shading and texture adds depth and realism to the scene, drawing the viewer's attention to the dynamic movement of the boats and the waves. The level of detail in the drawing suggests a high level of skill and attention to detail on the part of the artist. If you're interested in exploring more works by this artist, you might want to look up Smith, Robert Captain.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing *Dandees in a Gale of Wind* by Captain Robert Smith is one of 65 mounted pencil illustrations from his *Pictorial Journal of Travels in Hindustan* (1828–1833). It depicts porters carrying sedan chairs through a strong wind during his voyage along the Ganges from Calcutta to Cawnpore between December 1828 and March 1829. The work, part of a larger unpublished manuscript, includes sketches from his travels in India, including stops in Delhi, Agra, and Lucknow. The drawing was later acquired by the museum in 1915 from W. M. Biden of Hampton-on-Thames.

Read the full account in the museum source.