Beschreibung:

Frank McKelvey RHA RUA (1895-1974) The Kelly Coal Boats, Queen's Quay, Belfast Oil on canvas, 44.5 x 60cm (17.5 x 23.5'') Signed Provenance: Commissioned by John Kelly Ltd. for their annual calendar and acquired from the company by the current owner over ten years ago. See Note on ''The Kelly Fleet'' by Marianne O'Kane Boal in our May 2012 Catalogue, p22 for further information. This fine painting by the artist demonstrates his sense of ease with the subject. It would have been painted from a photograph with an element of artistic licence, most likely post 1920 when John Kelly would have seen early works in McKelvey's commissioned series from Thomas McGowan for paintings of 'Old Belfast.' This painting could even have been commissioned after 1950 when Kelly began commissioning the artist to record his vessels for the annual Kelly Calendar. Although the date of execution is unclear, the time of depiction is more certain. The painting features a series of quayside bows of sailing vessels dating to c1900. This mixture of sailing colliers belonged to various owners with the Kelly coal boats predominating. One of the vessels has the name ''Happy go lucky'' which is certainly not a Kelly name. The painting relates well to the watercolour 'Queens Quay' by McKelvey that features John Kelly's offices and those of other colliers of the time. The row of terraced offices is featured in the far right mid ground and this acts as both a topographical device while also highlighting the scale and importance of the docked ships, in that the architectural detail is dwarfed by the ships themselves. Steamships have arrived at the time of depiction but this is a kept as a minor detail, seen through the ship's masts in the left mid ground, its importance lessened via the bright cast of light with which McKelvey treats the vessel. A line of coal men are stationed at the edge of the quay with their Clydesdale horses and high sided two-wheeled carts lined up along the quay to move the loads. They await the men leaving the boats by gang plank, stooped under the sacks of coal on their backs. It is a composition that sees McKelvey employ an ideal palette to capture the era with freshness and vitality. The scene itself is a celebration of the ships and their importance at the turn of the century. It is full of activity and a sense of nostalgia, and this coupled with the light, presumably of high summer lend the painting a natural air. It is clearly a key work in McKelvey's oeuvre. Marianne O'Kane Boal Frank McKelvey RHA RUA (1895-1974) The Kelly Coal Boats, Queen's Quay, Belfast Oil on canvas, 44.5 x 60cm (17.5 x 23.5'') Signed Provenance: Commissioned by John Kelly Ltd. for their annual calendar and acquired from the company by the current owner over ten years ago. See Note on ''The Kelly Fleet'' by Marianne O'Kane Boal in our May 2012 Catalogue, p22 for further information. This fine painting by the artist demonstrates his sense of ease with the subject. It would have been painted from a photograph with an element of artistic licence, most likely post 1920 when John Kelly would have seen early works in McKelvey's commissioned series from Thomas McGowan for paintings of 'Old Belfast.' This painting could even have been commissioned after 1950 when Kelly began commissioning the artist to record his vessels for the annual Kelly Calendar. Although the date of execution is unclear, the time of depiction is more certain. The painting features a series of quayside bows of sailing vessels dating to c1900. This mixture of sailing colliers belonged to various owners with the Kelly coal boats predominating. One of the vessels has the name ''Happy go lucky'' which is certainly not a Kelly name. The painting relates well to the watercolour 'Queens Quay' by McKelvey that features John Kelly's offices and those of other colliers of the time. The row of terraced offices is featured in the far right mid ground and this acts as both a topographical device while also hi