Alfred Wallis

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Wreck of the Alba

1938-9
  • Contemporary living room
  • Cosy living room
  • Reading corner
  • Hallway
  • Scandinavian kitchen
  • Traditional kitchen
  • Contemporary bedroom
  • Rustic bedroom
  • Contemporary living room
  • Cosy living room
  • Reading corner
  • Hallway
  • Scandinavian kitchen
  • Traditional kitchen
  • Contemporary bedroom
  • Rustic bedroom
Wallis: Wreck of the Alba

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In this dramatic painting Alfred Wallis depicted a ship floundering in turbulent seas at Porthmeor Beach, St Ives. Unlike many of his other paintings, which tell of what used to be, the ‘Wreck of the Alba’ is almost certainly something that Wallis witnessed himself. The disaster occurred in the January of 1938, when the 3,700-ton steamer ran aground in stormy weather. Thanks to the help of local St Ives people all but 5 men involved in the wreck survived.

Wallis worked on the painting at his cottage, with the panel propped on a table he chose his colours from pre-mixed household or ship’s paints, avoiding artists’ oils which he deemed not ‘real paint’ but ‘muck’.
  • Artist Alfred Wallis
  • Artwork Wreck of the Alba
  • Image size 377 x 683 mm
  • Material Oil paint on wood
  • Date of work 1938-9
  • Credit Presented by the Tate Friends St Ives 1994
Born in 1855 Alfred Wallis was an English fisherman, scrap merchant and painter. Claiming to have gone to sea at the age of nine, Wallis was involved in deep-sea fishing and had sailed as far as Newfoundland, Canada. In 1890 he moved to St Ives where he became a marine scrap merchant. He retired in 1912 and when his wife died in 1922 he took up painting to keep himself company.
  • Product Code S23100
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Delivery & returns

Delivery & returns

DELIVERY TIMES

We aim to deliver custom prints within 1-2 weeks. For international orders, delivery may take 2-4 weeks.

As each print is handmade to order they take a little longer to prepare. We’ll dispatch your order as soon as it is ready, separately from any other items.

UNFRAMED PRINTS DELIVERY CHARGES

UK — £3.60 per order

Europe — £15.00 per order

Rest of world — £28.00 per order

FRAMED & CANVAS PRINTS DELIVERY CHARGES

UK — £7.50 per print

Europe — £20.00 per print

Rest of world — £50.00 per print

We currently offer free standard delivery on all UK orders over £60. Here’s more information on delivery.

REFUNDS & RETURNS

As custom prints are made to order, unfortunately we cannot accept returns if you have changed your mind or made a mistake.

If we have made a mistake, or there is a problem with your order, then please contact our customer service team at at shop@tate.org.uk.

Here’s more information on refunds & returns.

Delivery & returns

DELIVERY TIMES

We aim to deliver custom prints within 1-2 weeks. For international orders, delivery may take 2-4 weeks.

As each print is handmade to order they take a little longer to prepare. We’ll dispatch your order as soon as it is ready, separately from any other items.

UNFRAMED PRINTS DELIVERY CHARGES

UK — £3.60 per order

Europe — £15.00 per order

Rest of world — £28.00 per order

FRAMED & CANVAS PRINTS DELIVERY CHARGES

UK — £7.50 per print

Europe — £20.00 per print

Rest of world — £50.00 per print

We currently offer free standard delivery on all UK orders over £60. Here’s more information on delivery.

REFUNDS & RETURNS

As custom prints are made to order, unfortunately we cannot accept returns if you have changed your mind or made a mistake.

If we have made a mistake, or there is a problem with your order, then please contact our customer service team at at shop@tate.org.uk.

Here’s more information on refunds & returns.