Edwin Hayes RHA RI ROI, British/Irish 1819-1904- Off Lowestoft; oil on canvas, signed, 50x76cm Note: Hayes experiences growing up by the coast and living at sea would have a profound impact on the work he would produce as an artist later in his life. His faithful depictions of ships in stormy conditions around the English, French and Spanish coasts became highly sought after during the period with the present work - set just off the Suffolk coast - being typical of his oeuvre. From 1842, Hayes exhibited at the RHA and in 1855 exhibited at the R.A where he was a regular contributor for the next forty-nine years. Held in an English 19th century gilded composition Neo-classical style frame with plain gilded slip The frame now overpainted in gold coloured paint, the original gilded surface to the slip. The frame and slip are not likely to be the original to the painting. The taping on the reverse of the frame has been removed completely. Painting is held in place within the frame with recently applied panel pins. The wooden stretcher is likely to be the original, now with recently applied parcel tape. Wooden wedges are replacements. The canvas has been relined, circa mid 20th century. There are old traces of bar marks and some flattened craquelure. The paint surface has been re-varnished in recent years. Some of this newer varnish is uneven in places and yellowed. Under inspection with UV lamp there is evidence of retouching in the following places: In the jib, the edges of the upper back edges of the hull and at the base of the bowsprit of the principal ship; throughout all the clouds, particularly on the right hand side of the sky; sizeable old repaired hole top right corner in the sky; heightening in the shadows of the front of the hull of the secondary ship left, in-filling of old opened craquelure lower left sea and some further small spots in the sea here and there. Otherwise in overall good condition.