The Victory at Trafalgar Watercolour by Gregory Robinson, c.1920

The Victory at Trafalgar Watercolour by Gregory Robinson, c.1920 This fine watercolour shows HMS Victory heading in to battle at Trafalgar, still perhaps Britain’s most celebrated naval engagement and subject of a large number of paintings and watercolours, both contemporary and later re-imaginings. The artist learnt his trade studying the rigging of the vessels and this is obvious in the way that the features of the vessels have been delineated. The artist’s palette is very similar to that used by the likes of Montagu Dawson in the same period and this is an attractive and atmospheric portrayal of this famous event. Gregory Robinson (1876-1967) Born in Plymouth, had first-hand experience of the life of a sailor having spent his First World War career in the British Navy. In addition to this he had formal art school training, having studied at the Royal Academy Schools. He lived firstly in Southampton and then the Hamble, both locations had a great effect on his art, much of his work being concerned with the sea and shipping. During his lifetime he hosted a number of solo shows, held at the most prestigious galleries. He exhibited at Spink and Son c.1905, followed by several successful shows at Walker’s Gallery in New Bond Street. One, in 1910, titled The sea – where the ships are and another Out and Home in 1920. The 1910 show was very positively reviewed in the Financial News, 19th of October 1910. His third show there, 1934, was simply titled An Exhibition of Water-colours of Ships. In addition to these solo shows, Robinson also exhibited in such venues as the Southampton Art Gallery in 1933. This is particularly appropriate as a venue as one of Robinson’s works, a painting in oils on wood of a model of the Mayflower may now be found in that same gallery’s permanent collection. There is also a yachting regatta scene by the artist in the Royal Navy Museums, Portsmouth, collection. Robinson was also the author of a book titled Ships That Have Made History, published in 1936, and supplied all of his own illustrations.