J.W. Carey - Set of Three Matching Vintage Maritime Prints - John Kelly Ltd Steamships

Set of three vintage framed maritime prints after the Belfast marine painter Joseph William Carey (1859–1937), each showing a steam collier of the famous Belfast coal fleet of John Kelly Ltd passing
a landmark of the Irish coast.

The Prints

1. “The S.S. ‘Balmarino’ Passing Metal Man, Rosses Point, Sligo.” Signed in the plate. Built at Troon in 1898, the Balmarino served the Kelly fleet for 59 years. Frame approx. 53 x 40cm.

2. “The S.S. ‘Crossgar’ Passing Fanad Head Light at the Entrance to Lough Swilly.” Signed in the plate and credited on the mount. The 1936-built Crossgar in full Kelly livery passing Fanad Head lighthouse.
Frame approx. 51 x 40cm.

3. “The S.S. ‘Melissa’ Passing Cove of Cork.” Credited “By J.W. Carey” on the mount. The 1908-built Melissa in Cork Harbour with Cove (Cobh) behind. Frame approx. 52 x 40cm.

The Artist
Carey was a founder member of the Belfast Art Society, an academician of the Ulster Academy of Arts and an RHA exhibitor. He painted the celebrated Belfast history scenes in the Ulster Hall, and his
work is held by the Ulster Museum and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

Provenance & Framing
Belfast provenance: two carry the period label of St. Anne’s Art Gallery (W.J. Irvine), Belfast, and one the label of John Small, Picture Frame Maker & Gilder, 30 Bridge End, Belfast.

All in gilt frames with cream mounts and printed titles, glazed, ready to hang. Three Kelly colliers on three coasts by one of Belfast’s finest ship painters – hard to find together.

Condition
Frames and glass sound. Age-related foxing and spotting to prints and mounts, heavier on the Melissa, plus wear and small tears to the backing papers. See photos.

Collection Belfast or Dublin.