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Notes
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This painting came to be the collection from Captain Manby from Great Yarmouth, who had invented a 'life-saving apparatus' in the early 19th century and commissioned several artists to paint it 'in action' in order to advertise it. The painting was shown at the Royal Academy in 1832 with the title 'Forcing a boat from a flat beach in a heavy gale, by the plan brought into use by Captain Manby, for affording assistance to ships in distress at a distance from land with facility and certainty'. A 19th-century label on the reverse of the painting reads: ‘Forcing a Boat from a flat beach in a Gale. / By the plan brought into use by Capt Manby for affording assistance to Ships in distress at a distance from the land, with facility and certainty.
The white-over-red flags used today only became pilot flags in 1849, almost two decades after this work was painted. Before then, pilot cutters flew flags with the first and last letter of their port and the pilot's number.
Title
Lifeboat Going to a Vessel in Distress
Date
c.1832
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 102 x W 127.9 cm
Accession number
NWHCM : 2003.12.6 : F
Acquisition method
gift from Captain Manby of Great Yarmouth, 1841
Work type
Painting
Inscription description
W. Joy