Castor Running Down Cameleon by Petrus Nefos

A fine reverse-painted glass picture by Petrus Nefos depicting ‘H.M.S. Castor Running Down The Cameleon Cutter Off Dover Augt. 27 1834’. The artist rendering extraordinary detail showing the viewer Dover Castle in the distance between the main and mizzen masts with two lighthouses on the Dover Foreland above the chalk cliffs. The rigging of both vessels is highly accurate; one poor solitary crewmember seen beside the figurehead pulling himself up the standing rigging to the bowsprit.

In excellent condition save for the tarnishing to black of the gold lettered title band. Within the original flame mahogany veneered wedge-form frame. English circa 1850.

o.s:26 inches x 19.5 inches

This artist worked at the Weytz family studio in Antwerp where they specialized in this technique of reverse painting on glass. He later came to England, his output suggesting that he had settled in Dover, working under his own name.

On 27th August 1834, the 36-Gun frigate Castor collided with the Customs House cutter Cameleon off South Foreland, Dover, sinking Cameleon with the loss of most of its crew. This incident led to the Court Martial of officers and crew of Castor on 6 September 1834 in Plymouth. The officers were acquitted but the lieutenant of the watch was dismissed from the service, it having been admitted and proven that a proper watch had not been kept.