The colour and broad-brush techniques Cadell learnt from painters like Matisse and Monet can be seen in this study of a steamer alongside the pier at Cove. In the distance is a view of the hills and the entrance to Loch Long. In 1934 the painting was given as a wedding present to Katharine Tennant, the half-sister of Margot Asquith, wife of the prime minister Herbert Asquith. Katherine was known to enjoy sailing in the area around Cove. The history and culture of steamer travel around the coasts of Scotland is of particular interest to the Scottish Maritime Museum, and this picture is a rare example of the industry as depicted by a modern artist of national significance.

Provenance

Katharine Tennant, 1934; thence by descent; Christie's October 2002; Stephen Paisnel Gallery, 2007; private collector; Portland Gallery