Whalers in the Arctic

Ward's whaling scenes are a distinct and impressive aspect of his output. His accurate treatment of Arctic topography, such as icebergs and floes suggests that, unlike his contemporaries, he made at least one trip to the area to make sketches from which to paint. Interestingly, in contrast to the surroundings, the ship, shown in three different views, was painted from drawings made whilst the vessel was docked in Hull. Part of Ward's skill is his ability to fuse the different elements of the composition to create a convincing and harmonious end result. Other fine examples of Ward's whaling scenes can be found at Hull's Maritime Museum.