This painting is the most cherished in our family's collection. It depicts several sailboats around St. Mary's Isle or 'Conister Rocks' in Douglas Bay and the Tower of Refuge. The tower was built in 1832 by Sir William Hillary as place for the occasional shipwrecked sailor to take refuge on the semi-submerged reef-rocks until help could arrive.It was supposedly stocked with rum and hardtack.
The dimensions of the picture are rather small (perhaps 8X10 or less). The image copied for this blog was taken from a photograph blown up to 16X20.
Sawyer painted a cheery azure sky and sapphire waters instead of the typical greys of the Irish Sea. Sailors work under the boom with ropes. The forward lookout balances proudly on the bow.
The painting is signed 'H.E. Sawyer 1918' which doesn't seem to correspond with family story that the picture was painted en route. Also, the boats appear to be sailing toward the Manx landmark, but away from the Statue of Liberty!
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