{"product_id":"shipwreck-painting-high-tide-off-trebarwith-strand-cornwall-signed-by-charles-sim-mottram-rba","title":"Shipwreck Painting High Tide off Trebarwith Strand Cornwall Signed by Charles Sim Mottram RBA","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"122\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e“High Tide off Trebarwith Strand” 🌊⚓️\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"38\" data-end=\"41\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDramatic Cornish Shipwreck Masterpiece Signed by Charles Sim Mottram RBA c.1894\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"124\" data-end=\"127\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"435\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"152\"\u003eSubject \u0026amp; Medium 🎨\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"152\" data-end=\"155\"\u003eThis is a powerful late-Victorian marine watercolour \u0026amp; bodycolour heightened with white by Charles Sim Mottram, titled \u003cem data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"272\"\u003eHigh Tide off Trebarwith Strand\u003c\/em\u003e and dated 1894. The subject is the wild north Cornish coast at Trebarwith Strand, near Tintagel – a steep, cliff-backed beach facing directly onto the Atlantic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"437\" data-end=\"787\"\u003eA full-rigged sailing vessel has run aground and is floundering just beyond the line of surf, breaking up on unseen rocks. The stern rises and falls in the swell; shattered masts and spars tilt at dangerous angles. On the beach below the cliffs, a crowd of fishermen, lifeboat men and local villagers hurry to the water’s edge as the drama unfolds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"789\" data-end=\"899\"\u003eExecuted in watercolour with bodycolour (white heightening) on paper, this is an original 19th-century work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"901\" data-end=\"904\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"906\" data-end=\"1068\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"906\" data-end=\"937\"\u003eComposition \u0026amp; Technique 🖌️\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"937\" data-end=\"940\"\u003eMottram arranges the scene as a broad panoramic strip, allowing the viewer to follow the narrative from foreground to horizon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1070\" data-end=\"1718\"\u003eIn the foreground, wet sand catches and reflects the light; tracks, footprints and small pools show where the tide has recently drawn back. A strong diagonal of figures leads the eye from the lower left towards the centre: fishermen in traditional sou’wester caps and work clothes brace themselves against the pull of thick, tarred ropes and wreckage on the shore that disappear into the surf. Some lean forward with their full weight; others steady the line or gesture urgently towards the stricken ship. Closer to the cliffs, more fishermen and children gather in small groups, hands raised to shade their eyes as they watch the scene offshore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1720\" data-end=\"2166\"\u003eIn the middle distance, heavy Atlantic rollers are built up in bands of blue-grey and green. Mottram breaks the crests with dense bodycolour to suggest foam and flying spray, giving the sea real weight and movement. The wrecked vessel lies just beyond the main line of breakers, its dark hull and jagged spars sharply silhouetted against the paler water. Fragments of rigging and broken mastwork intensify the sense of danger and imminent loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2168\" data-end=\"2432\"\u003eIn the distance, a headland and lower cliffs close the view, firmly locating the scene on the Cornish coast, while a layered, low sky presses down over the composition. Gulls wheel above the wreck, described with a few economical strokes that add life and scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2434\" data-end=\"2778\"\u003eTechnically, the work shows confident use of broad transparent washes for sky and distance, more solid modelling for cliffs and figures, and crisp, opaque highlights for foam, spray and key details. The balance between careful draughtsmanship and expressive brushwork is exactly what collectors seek in a serious Victorian marine watercolour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2780\" data-end=\"2783\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2785\" data-end=\"3062\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2785\" data-end=\"2811\"\u003eAbout The Artist 👨🎨\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2811\" data-end=\"2814\"\u003eCharles Sim Mottram RBA (British, 1852–1919) was a respected late-Victorian marine and coastal painter. Based in London, he travelled widely to the west and south-west coasts of Britain, with Cornwall providing some of his most dramatic subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3064\" data-end=\"3409\"\u003eHe specialised in shipwrecks, lifeboat launches and storm-lashed seas, alongside quieter harbour views and coastal scenes. His work was regularly exhibited in London, including at the Institute of Painters in Water Colours (later the Royal Institute), and is admired for its combination of narrative drama and closely observed sea and weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3411\" data-end=\"3795\"\u003eMottram is occasionally confused with the earlier engraver Charles Mottram, but this painting is unequivocally by Charles Sim Mottram the marine painter: the signature, subject matter, period and watercolour handling are all entirely characteristic of his work. His Cornish subjects are especially sought after, with a St Ives scene achieving $20,129 US Dollars at Tennants in 2013.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"3797\" data-end=\"3800\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3802\" data-end=\"4171\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3802\" data-end=\"3832\"\u003eHistorical Significance 📜\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"3832\" data-end=\"3835\"\u003eThis watercolour is a finely balanced, securely dated example of Mottram’s mature marine work. It conveys not only the power of the Atlantic on the north Cornish coast, but also the shared experience of a coastal community: men risking themselves at the water’s edge, women and children watching anxiously from slightly higher ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4173\" data-end=\"4456\"\u003eTrebarwith Strand is a much-loved and dramatic stretch of coastline, and works that combine a specific, recognisable Cornish location with this scale and level of narrative drama are particularly desirable and highly valued by collectors of Cornish art and British marine painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4458\" data-end=\"4788\"\u003eThe original late-19th-century exhibition-type label on the reverse, giving the full title, location, artist’s name, London banking address and original price, links the work directly to the Victorian exhibition and retail system and confirms that it was conceived as a substantial professional piece rather than a minor sketch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"4790\" data-end=\"4793\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4795\" data-end=\"5526\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4795\" data-end=\"4825\"\u003eProvenance \u0026amp; Exhibition 🧾\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4825\" data-end=\"4828\"\u003e– Originally exhibited in a London watercolour exhibition in the late 19th century, as indicated by the original exhibition-type label verso, which is entirely consistent with the Institute of Painters in Water Colours (later the Royal Institute).\u003cbr data-start=\"5075\" data-end=\"5078\"\u003eInscribed with the title “High Tide”, the location “off Trebarwith Strand”, the artist’s name and his London banking address, “c\/o London \u0026amp; County Bank, High Holborn W.C.”, together with the original price in manuscript. Thence in private ownership in the United Kingdom; later in a private collection in Gwynedd, Wales, where both painting and label were preserved. Offered and sold through a notable North West–based auction house, label verso.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5528\" data-end=\"5839\"\u003eCurated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD and exhibited in \u003cem data-start=\"5589\" data-end=\"5656\"\u003eAtlantic Drama: Shipwrecks \u0026amp; Lifeboat Heroes on the Cornish Coast\u003c\/em\u003e, Winter 2025, Famous Lord Hill Museum, among a selection of significant British marine and Cornish coastal works from private collections. Now offered from this curated collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"5841\" data-end=\"5844\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5846\" data-end=\"6214\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"5846\" data-end=\"5859\"\u003eSigned ✒️\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"5859\" data-end=\"5862\"\u003eThe painting is signed at the lower right “Chas S Mottram 94”, confirming both the artist and the 1894 date. The signature is clear, fluent and consistent with other recorded examples by Charles Sim Mottram. On the reverse label the artist again writes his name as “Chas S Mottram”, providing an additional confirmation of authorship in his own hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"6216\" data-end=\"6219\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6221\" data-end=\"6624\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"6221\" data-end=\"6244\"\u003eFramed \u0026amp; Glazed 🖼️\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"6244\" data-end=\"6247\"\u003eThe watercolour is presented in an attractive gilt moulded Larson-Juhl frame, recently professionally fitted. This high-quality contemporary moulding is sympathetic to both the period and the subject, giving the work a classic, gallery-ready appearance while ensuring the structure and materials meet modern standards. An inner slip further sets off the image and adds depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6626\" data-end=\"6979\"\u003eTo the front, it is protected by AR70 glass – a premium, low-reflection glazing that significantly reduces glare and offers enhanced UV filtration compared with standard glass. This improves viewing in modern interiors (especially under artificial light or near windows) and helps protect the delicate watercolour pigments from light damage over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6981\" data-end=\"7115\"\u003eAs the frame has been recently installed, it presents very cleanly, with only the most minimal handling marks, and is ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"7117\" data-end=\"7120\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"7122\" data-end=\"7485\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"7122\" data-end=\"7141\"\u003eFramed Size 📏:\u003c\/strong\u003e 67.5 cm high × 109.5 cm wide × 3 cm deep\u003cbr data-start=\"7182\" data-end=\"7185\"\u003eThe wide panoramic format and substantial overall size give the painting real presence on the wall. It is notably larger than many Victorian watercolours and works especially well above a sofa, sideboard, fireplace or in a stairwell, where its sweep and detailed narrative can be fully appreciated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"7487\" data-end=\"7490\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"7492\" data-end=\"8382\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"7492\" data-end=\"7518\"\u003eWhy You'll Love It ✅❤️\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"7518\" data-end=\"7521\"\u003e✅ Dramatic late-Victorian shipwreck scene on the rugged Cornish coast at Trebarwith Strand, rich in narrative and human interest.\u003cbr data-start=\"7650\" data-end=\"7653\"\u003e✅ Large, exhibition-scale watercolour with an impressive panoramic format that makes a genuine statement on the wall.\u003cbr data-start=\"7770\" data-end=\"7773\"\u003e✅ Well-documented work by Charles Sim Mottram, complete with original Victorian exhibition-type label giving title, location, name and London banking address, plus a recent curated museum exhibition history.\u003cbr data-start=\"7980\" data-end=\"7983\"\u003e✅ Combines strong regional and historical appeal (Cornwall, Trebarwith Strand, the Victorian maritime story) with excellent decorative impact for both traditional and contemporary interiors.\u003cbr data-start=\"8173\" data-end=\"8176\"\u003e✅ Professionally presented in a recently fitted gilt moulded Larson-Juhl frame and AR70 low-reflection, UV-filtering glass – it looks superb, is well protected, and is ready to hang and enjoy immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"8384\" data-end=\"8387\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"8389\" data-end=\"8796\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"8389\" data-end=\"8405\"\u003eCondition 🔍\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"8405\" data-end=\"8408\"\u003eThe watercolour presents very well for its age. Colours remain strong and atmospheric, with no obvious fading to either sea or sky when viewed through the glass. The sheet appears flat and properly supported within the frame, with no pronounced cockling visible from the front. Under normal viewing conditions there are no evident tears, holes or visible repairs to the painted surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"8798\" data-end=\"9136\"\u003eThe original exhibition-type label on the reverse is heavily browned and shows foxing, staining and some paper losses – exactly what you would expect from a genuine late-19th-century label that has travelled with the work for more than a century. Crucially, the inscription remains legible and the label is stable and securely attached.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"9138\" data-end=\"9365\"\u003eThe painting has not been examined out of the frame and is therefore sold as seen. As with all authentic Victorian works on paper, small age-related characteristics should be expected and are part of its charm and provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-1-thinking\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-id=\"cde53e37-bf08-4d06-961b-09bec3cdfbee\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"thread-bottom-container\" class=\"group\/thread-bottom-container relative isolate z-10 w-full basis-auto has-data-has-thread-error:pt-2 has-data-has-thread-error:[box-shadow:var(--sharp-edge-bottom-shadow)] md:border-transparent md:pt-0 dark:border-white\/20 md:dark:border-transparent content-fade single-line flex flex-col\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-token-text-secondary relative mt-auto flex min-h-8 w-full items-center justify-center p-2 text-center text-xs md:px-[60px]\"\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"5336\" data-end=\"5339\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"3609\" data-end=\"3622\"\u003eShipping\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3623\" data-end=\"3732\"\u003eWorldwide Shipping Available — Professionally packaged and fully insured for secure international delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3734\" data-end=\"3864\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3734\" data-end=\"3862\"\u003eAvailable exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD — Inquire now to secure this unique piece.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr data-end=\"5560\" data-start=\"5557\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56295418036602,"sku":"k40000078","price":10000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0201\/2227\/1808\/files\/HighTideoffTrebarwithStrandDramaticCornishShipwreckSignedbyCharlesSimMottram.jpg?v=1765470160","url":"https:\/\/cheshireantiquesconsultantltd.com\/ga-es\/products\/shipwreck-painting-high-tide-off-trebarwith-strand-cornwall-signed-by-charles-sim-mottram-rba","provider":"Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}