An illustrated ‘whodunit’ of a longstanding conundrum, and its recent somewhat surprising denouement.

Curiosity, aroused by a single observation about twelve years ago, subsequently uncovered a group of over thirty unsigned ship paintings of good quality sharing the common feature of a distinctive outdated British Ensign. This eventually led to the idea that it might prove to be a private pictorial signature or ‘rebus’.

Assisted by several strokes of good luck and generous contributions from a transatlantic network of interested colleagues, the identity of the publicity shunning Hustwick from Hull would now seem established beyond reasonable doubt, the testimony of the paintings reading like a detective story, false tails included.

Assisted by several strokes of good luck and generous contributions from a transatlantic network of interested colleagues, the identity of the publicity shunning Hustwick from Hull would now seem established beyond reasonable doubt, the testimony of the paintings reading like a detective story, false tails included.

For the student of Liverpool ship portraits, the recently unmasked artist ranks equal with other well known contemporaries. When it comes to attribution, this ‘catalogue raisonee’ with its detailed description of stylistic characteristics and colour illustrations, provides indispensable practical assistance. PRICES