"Armada under attack by English fleet" by David Aldus (now sold 23/10/11)

£20,000.00

  HIGH PRESTIGE EXHIBITION STANDARD VERY LARGE OIL PAINTING  "Armada under attack by English fleet, Hawkins in "Ark Royal" engaging "San Martin". Fire ship (Re-named Hell-burner) threatening from the stern" . BY THE FABULOUS ARTIST DAVID ALDUS.

 This lovely large  painting uses oils ever more transparently and turned to an evocation of almost pure light by use of shimmering colour!!.. Note The title of this painting is paying respect to Turner, who insisted on describing his paintings with long explanations, a tradition which died with him!! 

On the left of the painting Hawkin's "Ark Royal " Can be seen broadsiding San Martin while both ships are desperately avoiding the English Hell-burner ship by setting all sails so that the battle is taking place at a high rate of knots. 

Fire ships had recently been modernised and were re-named 'Hell-Burner' because of the way they were now packed with explosives and were armed with cannon primed and left unmanned. When the heat of the fire reached the cannon they would fire indiscriminately. At the siege of Antwerp the first Hell Burner was credited with killing a thousand men and the sight of one created widespread panick amongst the Spanish Fleet. The Hell Burner in the painting can be seen firing two cannon. 

A symbolic reference is made by the bowsprit of the Hell Burner. It has taken the shape of a burning cross. The Armada was manned by Catholics hoping to convert england; the British fleet was manned by Protestants who were intent on keeping their religion. Thus the two sides were Christians yet slaughtering each other. The burning cross is falling and the Christian commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' is nowhere to be seen. 

The tradition of the captain going down with his ship can be seen at the far bottom right of the painting where a commander is reaching out to help a sailor come onboard his sinking ship. He will refuse to leave his ship and go down with it. 

There can be seen a marked difference in the ships' appearence. The Arc Royal has far less decoration than the San Martin, and its prow (front) has a brutal symmetry, pointing straight ahead - the beginnings of Puritanism, maybe. San Martin, on the other hand, has decorations on every conceivable surface, and its prow has an upward thrust which gives the ship an awkward curve to its body. This ship is typical of Spanish Armada Galleons. The spanish grandess financed their individual ships and vied with one another to create the most gorgeous vessel money could buy. Thus the San Martin is unwieldy. On its stern can be seen the ludicrous canopy covering a side balcony where the higher ranks can be seen staring at the Hell Burner closing in. They had anticipated an easy victory over the British, and had erected such unseaworthy things like the canopy as if they were embarking on a little 'jolly' to England. 

Highest price received for one of his paintings is £14,000 "Lot's Wife" Absolute investment opportunity! 

   Measurements 4 foot 9''  x  4 foot  10''           (1 metre  45cms x 1 metre 47cms)

  Oil on Canvas ..............

                                   Ref only;Wikipedia; david aldus                               davidaldus.com                              


David Aldus the artist has exhibited with the Royal Society of British Artists ( R.B.A ); the Royal Institute of Oils (R.O.I); and the Royal Society of Marine Artists (R.S.M.A)  He has been nominated twice as a finalist in the Garrick/Milne prize exhibition held at Christies LONDON. His work has been selected for the Discerning Eye Exhibition by Art Critic, Edward Lucie Smith, where all his work was sold. He also sold all his work at the Lambeth Palace when exhibiting under the auspices of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. Highest price received for one of his paintings is £14,000. "Lot's wife"  see davidaldus.com . This painting was the same size as Turner's Hannibal crossing the Alps 5 foot by 8 foot. David Aldus also sold "A tribute to the people of Malta" that sold for £10,000. The same painting was the subject of a congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II. Lord Lewin, Admiral of the Fleet also sent a letter of congratulations.He has held one or two-man shows at Knightsbridge; South Kensington; Windsor and numerous other venues. He has exhibited in Westminster Central Hall; Royal Festival Hall;Birmingham's Royal British Artists exhibition;Victoria Art Gallery, Bath; Rooksmoor Gallery, Bath; London Guildhall; Mann Island, Liverpool; Christies, the London Auction House, etc. GUARANTEED TO BE 100% ORIGINAL AND GENUINE WITH C.O.A.

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