Louis Philippe at Gosport, October 1844

Location

Country: France
City: Paris
Place: British Embassy

This watercolour depicts the arrival of King Louis Philippe of France at Portsmouth on 10 October 1844. The French King had travelled overnight from Treport on board the ‘Gomer’, which dominates the scene and is shown surrounded by smaller vessels. To the right is ‘HMS Victory’, then (as now) the flagship at Portsmouth. Other depictions of Louis-Phillipe's arrival were made by Thomas Sewell Robins (National Maritime Museum) and J. M. W. Turner. This example is by brothers William and John Cantiloe Joy, who frequently worked together on compositions.

Following Queen Victoria’s visit to King Louis Philippe of France at his summer residence, Chateau d‘Eu (just north of Dieppe), in September 1843, the King visited the UK the following year. He landed at the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, where he was received by Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington and other dignitaries. The shore was lined with crowds of people, welcoming King Louis. The party immediately travelled on to Windsor Castle by train from Gosport Station, where the French King visited Queen Victoria.

William Joy was born in Greta Yarmouth, Norfolk. His father was a guard on the Great Yarmouth to Ipswich mail coach. His younger brother, John Cantiloe Joy, was also a marine painter and the two were known as the brothers Joy. Both brothers attended Mr Wright’s Southtown Academy in Great Yarmouth, before moving to London together in about 1830, under the patronage of the Earl of Abergavenny. In London they were successful in gaining commissions from naval patrons and sometimes worked together on compositions. William exhibited his work at the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Society of British Artists. The two brothers moved to Chichester late in their careers, where they died within a short time of each other.
John Cantiloe Joy was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk; the son of a guard on a mail coach. He and elder brother William were together known as the ‘brothers Joy’. They attended Mr Wright's Southtown Academy, Great Yarmouth, and practised marine views from a room of the Royal Hospital there. The brothers produced individual works and also collaborated on compositions. In about 1830 they moved to London under the patronage of the Earl of Abergavenny. Here, they established their reputations and received commissions from significant naval patrons. William exhibited at the Royal Academy and British Institution, while both brothers showed work at the Suffolk Street Gallery. The final years of their careers were spent in Chichester, Sussex.

Places

England, Gosport, Hampshire, The Solent

Subjects

rowing boat, seascape/coastal scene, sea, celebration, flag, sailor (navy), cannon, royal/state visit, harbour, steamboat, ship

Materials & Techniques

paper (as artists material), watercolour (as artists materials), watercolour (as object name)

Artist

William Joy (1803 - c.1859)
John Cantiloe Joy (1806 - 1859)

Title

Louis Philippe at Gosport, October 1844

Date

Medium

Watercolour on paper

Dimensions

height: 35.00 cm, width: 54.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Frank T Sabin, June 1966

GAC number

7458