Samuel Austin A.O.W.S. (1796-1834) - Coast scene, Ostend

Samuel Austin was elected as an Associate of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours (now known as the RWS) in 1827. He exhibited regularly with the group and also previously at the Society of British Arists between 1824-1826. Austin enjoyed going on sketching trips to the continent and some of his best works are of Dutch and French scenes. This watercolour of the Belgian coastal city of Ostend is typical of his style that closely resembles Peter de Wint in conveying atmostpheric effects. De Wint gave Austin three painting lessons in the early 1820s which had a profound impact on his technique.
 
A watercolour of 'The beach at Ostend' was sold at Christie's on 6th July 2021 as lot 106. It shows a clear similarity to our work and must have been created around the same time.  The boy in the Christie's picture could easily be the same boy in our picture just in a different outfit.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper, 15 x 21.5 cm, framed.
 
Provenance: J Palser & Sons, 9 King Street, Covent Garden (label verso). [1]
 
[1] Note, J Palser and Sons were located at 9 King Street, Covent Garden between 1876 and 1912.
 
Condition report: generally very good condition with small amounts of time staining visible. Vertical paper abrasions are obvious when viewed closely on the right-hand side of the watercolour.