Le Croisic<br><p>A sketch showing waves breaking waves close to shore at Le Croisic, where he made a number of seascape studies. The slate-grey tones of the sky are broken up with a yellow horizontal band streaked with red, to indicate the sun. By contrast the sea is dark green and grey. Everett has concentrated on form and colour so that the water in the foreground is reduced to a honeycomb pattern of light tones. The large diagonal wave in the middle distance forms the focal point of the sketch. It is constructed with a series of hatched short brush strokes of colour and the spray caused by the effect of the wind whipping it over the surface of the water is emphasized by exaggeratedly stylized shapes. The brilliant light from the sky casts a reflection which plays across the surface of the water.
</p><p>During December 1921 Everett stayed at the Fort de L'Océan hotel, Le Croisic, near Saint-Nazaire, in the Loire-Atlantique. The hotel was positioned above the rocks and afforded a panoramic view of the sea. He was the only person staying in the hotel, and from his vantage point in the glass verandah, he was able to see the sun rise and set over the Atlantic. Everett befriended the skipper of a four-masted barque, 'Hagomont', and frequently sailed in her to Saint-Nazaire. He made other short trips in her to visit fishing ports such as Piriac, Pamic and Nantes. Everett produced a large number of paintings during his stay here, demonstrating his painterly concerns with the effects of light on the sea and sky. Later, Everett made an aquatint print using this view which is also in the collection of the National Maritime Musueum, see PAF6340. The painting is inscribed 'le C' verso.<br></p>
Seascape
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John Everett</div>
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