1936
49.5 x 74.9 cm
Whereabouts unknown
More details...Recto: Signed and dated lower left: R. EURICH 193?
Aka: The Mary Eliza, Lyme Regis [REP]; The Mary Eliza, Weymouth [Redfern]
Dorset England Lyme Regis The South West berthed boats ships breakwater buildings calm cement harbour hills masts moored quay rigging sailing boats schooner sea two master warehousesThis painting is well known because it was reproduced as a print by the Medici Society and it proved very popular. The painting was mis-titled "The Mary Eliza, Weymouth" in the 1936 Redfern Gallery exhibition but as we can see from the diary extract below, the ship is in fact berthed at the end of the Cobb in Lyme Regis. We have changed the title accordingly.
12th January 1933.
At 7.15 in the morning I was woken up by the throbbing of a motor, quite soft, but the unusual sound no doubt was responsible. I thought to myself “That must be a boat, lad” and then I heard the harbour master’s voice uplifted, so I knew my surmise was correct. So I sat up in bed and put on my glasses and I could see the masthead light and the dim shadow of a ship. I called Hugh up and we had a peep at her with the field glasses. She looked very ghastly.Another ship …
12th January 1933.
At 7.15 in the morning I was woken up by the throbbing of a motor, quite soft, but the unusual sound no doubt was responsible. I thought to myself “That must be a boat, lad” and then I heard the harbour master’s voice uplifted, so I knew my surmise was correct. So I sat up in bed and put on my glasses and I could see the masthead light and the dim shadow of a ship. I called Hugh up and we had a peep at her with the field glasses. She looked very ghastly.Another ship with cement. But this time of iron and not nearly so well looked after or seamanlike as the barge ‘Venta’ which was here a month ago. Her saving grace being, from my point of view, a light red band round her middle. The ‘Mary Eliza’ from Hull.
Made slight drawings of her. Wind very cold from the east, but a glorious cloudless day, but not clear. In the afternoon started a painting of her (16x20). [This must be a different painting since the 1936 work is closer to 20x30 in]
13th January…went out to have a final look at the ship, as preparations seem to have been made to do a bunk.
14th January:
A depressing damp foggy morning. Not enough light to paint by. ‘Mary Eliza’ must have departed in the night.23rd February 1936:
Painted Mary Eliza (Lyme Regis) in “Goya” colours (Reeves) (Sold at Redfern PV for 30 gns) Finished it on 4th March 1936
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I have had a picture of this for at least 55+ years, which was given to me by my late mother in the 1940's, but am sure it's a print taken from the original. Presumably prints were taken of such an attractive subject and setting and sold through various outlets. I would be interested to learn whether hundreds of prints were taken from the original or whether they are fairly rare. I have always loved the picture.
My grandmother on leave from Kenya bought a signed print of The Mary Eliza - Lyme Regis in 1937. It hung on her wall in the highlands of Kenya until her passing away in 1980. I was handed down this perfect framed print which now hangs in my study.
