Any ideas where this was painted?

[KarenM]

Thanks everyone for all your help.  Now I know what an estuary is at least!

Jinks, I checked out Aberdovey and for some reason it looked familiar to me (I have never been there though).  I must get the copies of the rest of the watercolours, I think there is one that looks like that place.

Karen

[Jane Eden]

My other half is a yachtmaster and has sailed all around Europe. He says that these are not fishing vessels and they are not inshore commercial vessels. These would all have been gaff rigged/cutter rigged etc. These type of vessels are square rigged man o' war/ frigate, sea going, square rigged naval vessels. They are also moored in a tidal river/estuary very much like the naval base on the River Dart near Dartmouth close to Dittisham. He would estimate the painting to be around the 1850s or even earlier. He doesn't claim to be an expert but this is from his experience of being around the seagoing fraternity for many years, (and many trips to Dartmouth).

Jane

[trystan]

kmo,

The mountains are too high for Milford Haven I would have thought (from memory) - I could be wrong though

Trystan

[KarenM]

Thanks Jane for the information.   That's very interesting that your other half thinks it's from 1850's or so.  If my gr-grandfather wasn't born till 1876, how could he have painted it.  They (his grandchildren) figure he was sitting on the edge of the lake with brush in hand.  Hmm, this could get quite interesting.  Perhaps, like someone mentioned in my "finding an abbey" post that he painted them from paintings, since he was a butler?  Another point is that my gr-grandfather's mother is from Plymouth, Devon.

I called my father, who has the original and he thought there was something written on the back, so I asked him to take it out the frame.  Now, my father's eyesight is not the greatest, but apparently it says......

"on the La---" 

of course the important word he can't read, my mother couldn't either.  They thought it looked like Lasne (which I see is in Belgium) They are pretty sure there are only 5 characters.

Karen

[kmo]

but apparently it says......

"on the La---" 

 They are pretty sure there are only 5 characters.

Karen

Could be Larne, a port in Northern Ireland.

[Jane Eden]

I Googled Larne and artists and look at the link below.

http://www.bellgallery.com/j_h_craig.htm

Could be it.

Jane

[celia]

Jane's Other half is correct, My Grandfather was  a commander in the R.N.R  all his sea life and Riggers as i call them he sailed on. (source Naval records)If the painting is a copy from the original ,dating will be harder.Myself it looks to be around the early 1900's,my granddad wasn't born till 1874.I would say that the painting was of the riggers moored in an alcove on the coast of Wales. Protecting them from the storms.

Celia