A TRIO OF SAILORS AT THE RAIL OIL ON CANVAS Ca 1840 Charles Robert Leslie, RA, NA (1794 - 1859)   Oil on canvas                                               19 th Century Viewing area 24 1/2" x 29 3/4"                   Framed 30 1/4" x 35 1/4" Signed on stretcher CR Leslie                   June, 18, full year illegible   Presented is a wonderful oil on canvas painting of a group of three men standing by the ship's rail with a black dog looking for attention, probably two seaman and a better dressed man in street type clothing. A carefully coiled three strand line is on the deck to the left, and a portion of the ship's rigging is to the right. The sailors brightly colored garb is of the period and gives an idea of the styles worn at sea. The chap in the center looks more like a landsman and may be the ship's agent. This is a delightful narrative painting that invites the viewer to imagine what they were gabbing about. The name CR Leslie is painted in black on the top original stretcher. The date, June, is legible, then 18, but the year is not.  The painting was previously relined and the gold gild frame is likely not the original. The paint's surface is in excellent condition and shows no in painting and is free of crazing. The paintings age, style, composition and use of bright colors compares to other works by this artist where he uses bright vibrant colors to increase the importance of the figures. English born to American parents the artist as a child lived in America. He returned to England in 1811 at age 17  to study art. Later he became a member of the Royal Academy and the National Academy of Design. There are lots of Leslie's which is a common name and others that were artists. Charles Robert is recognized for his full size portraits of noted dignitaries. They include that of Sir Roger de Coverley going to Church (1819); May-day in the Time of Queen Elizabeth (1821); Sancho Panza and the Duchess (1824); and Uncle Toby and the Widow Wadman (1831) View the Uncle Toby painting by clicking here              Showing some of the loss of gilding on the frame   CONDITION: The frame is old, but probably not original. There is some loss of gilding along its edges. The painting is in excellent condition without any in painting or repairs. There are no crazing or cracks. Prior to our ownership, it was relined. It has been in our private collection since being purchased in 2011.            Back showing the original stretcher and relined canvas   Narrative paintings with a maritime theme of this period are more rare, and make a wonderful edition for any discriminating marine art collector. BIOGRAPHY:  Born in London, his parents were Americans. When he was five years of age he returned with them to their native country. They settled in Philadelphia, where their son was educated and afterwards became apprenticed to a bookseller. He was, however, mainly interested in painting and drama, and when George Frederick Cooke visited the city he executed a portrait of the actor from recollection of him on the stage, which was considered a work of such promise that a fund was raised to enable the young artist to study in Europe. He left for London in 1811, at age 17, bearing introductions which procured for him the friendship of West, Beechey, Allston, Coleridge and Washington Irving, being admitted as a student of the Royal Academy, where he carried off two silver medals. At first, influenced by West and Fuseli, he essayed high art, and his earliest important subject depicted Saul and the Witch of Endor; but he soon discovered his true aptitude and became a painter of cabinet-pictures, dealing, not like those of David Wilkie, with the contemporary life that surrounded him, but with scenes from the great masters of fiction, from Shakespeare and Cervantes, Addison and Molière, Swift, Sterne, Fielding and Smollett. In 1821, Leslie was elected A.R.A., and five years later full academician. In 1827 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Honorary Academician. In 1833, he left for America to become teacher of drawing in the military academy at West Point, but the post proved an irksome one, and in some six months he returned to England. He died 5 May 1859. Leslie was the brother of American author Eliza Leslie and United States Army soldier Thomas Jefferson Leslie. In April 1825 he married Harriet Honor Stone with whom he had six children. Their second son Sir Bradford Leslie was a noted bridge builder, and their youngest son, George Dunlop Leslie RA (1835–1921) a notable artist. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. Credit wikipedia OUR UNCONDITIONAL 'NO NONSENSE“ GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are refundable if due to our error within the continental United States. International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Republic of China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Hebrides (Vanuatu), New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI, Vanuatu (New Hebrides) and the Eastern Caribbean. SHIPPING & PACKING: The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination, will be calculated point to point and is an additional charge. You may email us to get these costs. We price our shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling.  STANDARD FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales are different.   Copyright 2016 by Land And Sea Collection™ All Rights Reserved!