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Notes
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The 'Kent', an Indiaman of 1350 tons, was one of three ships taking soldiers of the Queen's and 31st Regiments to India in early 1825 when she caught fire in the Bay of Biscay. There were 640 people on board: 145 crew and the rest officers and men of the 31st, with 47 wives and 73 children. By great luck the 200-ton Liverpool brig 'Cambria' saw the fire and her master, Captain Cook, showed brilliant seamanship in taking a dangerous station close by to try and assist. There was astonishing discipline on board the 'Kent' as boats transferred people to the 'Cambria', but eventually the situation became too dangerous and Captain Cook had to stand off. At 2am the following morning the munitions in the 'Kent's' cargo blew up; 68 men and 20 children died,14 of the surviving soldiers were rescued from the floating wreckage. The survivors were landed at Falmouth where they received great kindness, and most went on to India by another ship.
The 'Kent' is afire on the right. The agitated waves reflect the light of the flames. Two boats transfer people towards the 'Cambria' in the left background.
Like many other marine painters, Buttersworth was a seaman who recorded his experiences in paint and charcoal. He was Marine Painter to the East India Company and added commissioned ship portraits to his prolific output of naval battle scenes. Despite his relative success, he exhibited few paintings during his lifetime.
Title
The Loss of the East Indiaman 'Kent' in the Bay of Biscay, 1 March 1825
Date
early 19th C
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 43 x W 53.5 cm
Accession number
BHC3819
Work type
Painting