Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/thomas-j-somerscales-514" aria-label="More by Thomas J. Somerscales" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Thomas J. Somerscales</a>
Off Valparaiso
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1899
adults
animals: birds
boat, rowing
Chile, Valparaíso
cliff
countries and continents
figure
people
places
sea
seagull
seascapes and coasts
ship, sailing
society
sunshine
transport: water
weather
<p>Somerscales was as a naval teacher at sea, but he gave this up after suffering from malaria. He found a job in Chile as a schoolmaster, and began to paint as an amateur, specialising in South American landscapes and sea pictures. When he was in his fifties he returned to Britain to live in Hull, where he painted most of his best pictures as souvenirs of Chile. In 'Off Valparaiso' and other such paintings he emphasised the jade green and blue of the Pacific Ocean. This full rigged iron ship was used for bringing minerals from Chile. It is shaking out top gallants and royal sails, while hoisting a goose-winged flying jib. The whaler is a pilot boat, with standing oarsmen, being greeted but refused.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
Off Valparaiso
support: 965 × 1803 mm
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1899
<p>Somerscales was as a naval teacher at sea, but he  gave this up after suffering from malaria. He  found a job in Chile as a schoolmaster, and began  to paint as an amateur, specialising in South  American <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/l/landscape" title="Glossary definition for 'Landscape'"><span>landscapes</span></a> and sea pictures. When he was  in his fifties he returned to Britain to live in  Hull, where he painted most of his best pictures  as souvenirs of Chile. In 'Off Valparaiso' and  other such <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>paintings</span></a> he emphasised the jade green  and blue of the Pacific Ocean. This full rigged  iron ship was used for bringing minerals from  Chile. It is shaking out top gallants and royal  sails, while hoisting a goose-winged flying jib.  The whaler is a pilot boat, with standing oarsmen,  being greeted but refused.</p>
Display caption
2004-09-03T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
adults animals: birds boat, rowing Chile, Valparaíso cliff countries and continents figure people places sea seagull seascapes and coasts ship, sailing society sunshine transport: water weather