Shipping off Hull
This panoramic view of shipping off Hull captures the feel of the Humber on a blustery day; the rowing boats are jostled about by the choppy waves. With all the realism of a photograph, it is hardly surprising that Widdas was also a photographer by trade. He has rendered the buildings in the background with care and detail and unlike earlier, purely marine scenes, the people are more prominent. The shipping in the Humber ranges from sailing smacks and drifters to steamers. The largest vessel is the Rollo - 260 feet long and 1437 tons gross - which belonged to Thomas Wilson and Sons. Widdas was not a specialised marine artist but painted a wide range of subjects from portraits to coaching scenes.
