THE NORTHWOOD HOUSE PICTURES

A number of very remarkable nineteenth-century paintings currently hang in Northwood House. They are by a Ryde artist, Arthur Wellington Fowles, who was baptised at Ryde, Isle of Wight on 22 January 1815, the youngest son of William and Susan Fowles. He became a marine artist about the age of 35 and remained so all his life (which was brought to an abrupt end during a fishing trip in 1883 when his young son Edwin (one of twelve siblings) found a loaded gun and accidentally fired it at his father, killing him instantly).

An artist of significant reputation and merit, Arthur Wellington Fowles is generally regarded as the British equivalent of the noted American marine artist, James E. Buttersworth. Where Buttersworth often portrayed vessels of the New York Yacht Club, Fowles flourished as official painter to the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron.

Fowles remained in Ryde to work his entire life, giving him access to the great yachts of the early days of British racing. Some of his widest fame was earned in visually documenting the Schooner America’s first campaign in England that would earn the 100-Guinea Cup trophy that would become the prestigious America’s Cup.

The importance of the Isle of Wight location and many important yachting regattas helped Fowles make his mark within the history of marine painting and yachting lore. He received multiple direct commissions for his elegant yacht portraits by owners of the most renown racing and cruising yachts of the Victorian period. Today Fowles’ paintings are much sought after by knowing connoisseurs and collectors of the Golden Age of British yachting.

Some of his better-known paintings include:

‘Review of the Fleet at Spithead by H. M Queen Victoria’ (below)

‘Latona and Florinda ahead of Enchantress off St. Catherine's Point’

‘The cutter Brunette racing in Osborne Bay, the royal yacht beyond, with warships saluting her as she passes’

‘The flotilla of royal yachts departing from Osborne Bay for Queen Victoria’s state visit to France, 18 August 1855’

‘Florinda and Gwyndoline racing off the Nab lightship’

‘Marquis of Ailsa’s schooner LADY EVELYN off the Needles’ (below)

‘Ryde Regatta, 1864’

‘Yacht Egeria at Sea, Ryde’

As you can see, the Isle of Wight is extremely privileged to hold some of this renowned artist’s work. They have hung in Northwood House for more than thirty years, where not only do they look splendid and are enhanced by the elegant surroundings, but some of them – such as ‘Barge off the Royal Yacht Squadron’ and ‘The Shah’s Visit to Spithead’ (below) are specifically of scenes nearby.

For these reasons the Trustees feel that the Isle of Wight Council’s plans to remove the paintings to storage is inappropriate as they are entirely suitable in subject and scale for their grand setting in Northwood House where they can be enjoyed by visitors and users of the public rooms.