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A sea piece
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Benjamin Oakley (1766 - 1844)
A sea piece
Watercolour on paper
Height: 28.8cm, sight size
Width: 45.0cm, sight size
Width: 45.0cm, sight size
Inscription: SEA-VIEW B. OAKLEY 1792
Inscription note: In black painted capital letters
Inscription note: In black painted capital letters
Signed and Dated: B. Oakley / 1792
Museum number: P354
On display: Model Room (pre-booked tours only)
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
In October 1835 Oakley wrote to Soane presenting him with ‘a drawing of my own’ which, he says, Soane ‘will perceive by its date to be a production of my boyish days’. Oakley would have been twenty-six in 1792.
My dear Sir / Flattered by your wish that I should present you with a drawing of my own and could I anticipate your acceptance of what I now send, I shall feel highly honoured by your giving it a place (however obscure it might be) in your splendid Museum.
You will perceive by its date to be the production of my boyish days.
Your kindness in permitting me to ramble through yr elegantly arranged rooms, and your condescension in walking with me through them, I shall not forget, “while memory holds her [seat?] in this (my) distracted [globe]” – “May you live longer than I have time to tell your years” is the wish of Dear Sir, Your obliged friend, Benj. Oakley. Eden Cottage, Beckenham, 28th October 1835.
The drawing shows two vessels being tossed on stormy waves. The vessel nearest the viewer flies a flag with blue (bottom),white (centre) and red (top) horizontal stripes (which today would either be the flag of the Netherlands (dark blue) or Luxembourg (light blue).
My dear Sir / Flattered by your wish that I should present you with a drawing of my own and could I anticipate your acceptance of what I now send, I shall feel highly honoured by your giving it a place (however obscure it might be) in your splendid Museum.
You will perceive by its date to be the production of my boyish days.
Your kindness in permitting me to ramble through yr elegantly arranged rooms, and your condescension in walking with me through them, I shall not forget, “while memory holds her [seat?] in this (my) distracted [globe]” – “May you live longer than I have time to tell your years” is the wish of Dear Sir, Your obliged friend, Benj. Oakley. Eden Cottage, Beckenham, 28th October 1835.
The drawing shows two vessels being tossed on stormy waves. The vessel nearest the viewer flies a flag with blue (bottom),white (centre) and red (top) horizontal stripes (which today would either be the flag of the Netherlands (dark blue) or Luxembourg (light blue).
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk