Edwin Hayes (1819 - 1904) French Fishing Boats Oil on canvas, 76 x 127cm (30 x 50) Signed Edwin Hayes remains one of the most illustrious of Ireland’s maritime painters. Hayes may have been born in Bristol, but it was in Dublin that his ability blossomed. Hayes enjoyed a long career which saw his works frequently exhibited in both the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Royal Academy from the mid-19th century. Hayes worked on transatlantic vessels and also enjoyed to sail in his spare time. This time spent at sea gave Hayes a deep understanding of the subject and gave him his gift for handling marine subjects. Hayes was famed for his seascapes of the Channel and the Irish Sea. In this composition we see French fishing vessels navigating the stormy seas. The piece focuses on the crew of a single lugger who skilfully steer clear of a rocky outcrop. The narrative of the piece creates a nervous excitement within the viewer as they fear for the safety of the crew. The life buoy in the left middle ground highlights that the crew are perilously close to the danger of the rocks. The rocks serve as a reminder of the dangers these fleets faced daily. The life buoy adds tension to the piece as the onlooker momentarily dreads that a member of the crew has fallen overboard. The white clouds are mirrored by the white capped waves crashing against the coast. The serene sky above the sailors contrasts to the incoming dark clouds that have begun to roll across the mainland. The movement of the fishing boat is mirrored by the flight of the gull that glides across the foreground with its attentively detailed black tipped wings. The tower and ruins on the headland create an elegant backdrop to the coastal scene. Daragh Geraghty-Singleton, August 2022