Arthur James Wetherall Burgess

Born in Bombala, New South Wales Burgess studied in Sydney and St. Ives, Cornwall. He was appointed Australia's official naval artist in 1918.

Burgess eventually settled in London and many of his works feature British seascapes. He exhibited extensively including at ROI (Royal Institute of Oil Painters) and RI (Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours) - he was a member of both. Also exhibited at the RA, RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) and RBA (Royal Society of British Artists). He was a founder member of the Society of Marine Artists and its Vice-President.

The collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, owns four of Burgess's works as does Bristol Museum's collection. Others are in public collections and regional museums in England (Lincoln & Nuneaton) and in Australia.

This is an very attractive and evocative picture in which the reflections of the sun illuminate the foreground to great effect.

I have changed the mount, though not the frame of the picture, as the mount showed signs of perishing. The painting is unaffected and is in very good condition. The backing has also been preserved - it has labels on it indicating that it was shown by the Pastel Society in 1951 and sold for £12. 12s