Seascape Painting of American Clipper Ship “Red Cloud” by Henry Scott

HENRY SCOTT R.S.A.
British, 1911-2005

Fine Weather and a Fair Wind - Clipper Ship 'Red Cloud'

Oil on canvas | signed lower left | titled on reverse of stretcher bars

24 5/8" H x 34 5/8" W x 1 3/4" D [frame]
20" H x 30 3/4" W [canvas]

Provenance:

With MacConnal-Mason & Son, Ltd., London, there acquired for a private collection in 1994

The clipper ship Red Cloud was among the most celebrated American sailing vessels of the mid-19th century and a high point of clipper ship design. Built in 1854 in East Boston by Donald McKay, the leading shipbuilder of the era, she embodied the ambition and technical confidence of American maritime enterprise at its peak.

Red Cloud is best known for completing the fastest recorded sailing passage between New York and San Francisco, a feat that secured her reputation as one of the swiftest ships ever to round Cape Horn. Designed for long-distance trade, she served on premier routes linking the Atlantic, California, and Asia, carrying valuable cargo where speed was essential.

Her fame rests not only on measurable achievement but on what she represents: innovation, craftsmanship, and the drive to push the limits of performance under sail. For contemporaries, Red Cloud stood as a symbol of progress and national pride. Today, she remains an enduring emblem of the golden age of American clipper ships, when wind, design, and human skill combined at the highest level.

Henry Scott, R.S.A (British, 1911–2005)

Henry Scott was a British marine painter specializing in maritime and coastal subjects, particularly ship portraits of British and American clippers. His work is often favorably compared to that of Montague Dawson, with whom he shared a similar approach in capturing the movement and energy of the sea. His compositions frequently depict vessels under full sail, with churning waves and dynamic skies that enhance the sense of motion. His meticulous attention to atmospheric conditions and his distinctive palette made his paintings sought after by collectors and shipowners alike.

Scott exhibited widely throughout his career. He was closely associated with the Royal Society of Marine Artists, displaying his works there from 1950 to 1966. His paintings were also shown at the Royal Academy, the Royal Exchange, and the Guildhall in London. Internationally, his works were exhibited at the St. Malo Museum in France and Madison Square in New York. His contributions to the field of marine art were further recognized through his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (F.R.S.A.).

A significant portion of Scott’s output consisted of commissioned works for private patrons. Among his most notable commissions was Morning Cloud (1970), depicting the yacht owned and skippered by then-Prime Minister Edward Heath. This work in particular perfectly showcased Scott’s ability to render vessels with remarkable accuracy while maintaining a sense of vitality and movement. He was honored with a life membership in the International Association of Master Mariners, known as the "Cape Horners."

Condition:
Fine original condition with no restoration or inpainting. Some very minor discoloration to varnish, and at some point the painting would benefit from being cleaned. The scene presents brilliantly and it is always preferred to hold off on cleaning until absolutely necessary, but we can certainly have the painting cleaned and a new varnish applied upon request. Under UV examination, a few spots of varnish loss at the extreme left just above the horizon. Housed in the original giltwood frame with minor touchups to the gilding. Ready to place.

ref. 509WPP30E