Peel Castle and Shore
Date made: 1872
Artist: Holding, Henry James
Description: Large oil on canvas depicting a rather romanticised scene on Peel shoe, with Peel Castle in the background.
Peel is an historic fishing town with a longstanding connection to the sea. The painting attempts to capture the dangers associated with working on the Peel Herring Fleet who annually spent between May and September chasing herring and mackerel around British waters. It also show the women and children left behind on the shore. They would have helped by gutting and salting the fish ready for export.
Henry James Holding (1833-1872)
Was a professional artist born at Salford, Lancashire, in November 1833. At an early age he was employed as a pattern-designer to calico-printers, but soon took to the career of an artist, following the example of three of his brothers. All the members of the family were artists, but none received any regular art training. Holding exhibited in Manchester, Liverpool, and London, his favourite subjects being marine and torrent scenery, which he painted in both oil and water-colours. He died on 2 August 1872 in Paris, whither he had gone on a sketching tour and for the benefit of his health.
Measurements: unframed artwork: 67 cm x 132 cm
Materials: oil on canvas
Object name: painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1969-0204
Subject tags : Isle of Man