Sketch on SS City of Montreal and other 1873-78 sketches from FDM sketchbook

Francis Davis Millet photo circa mid 1870’s 

After completing his two years of study at the Royal Academy of Art in Antwerp, Belgium.  Millet traveled across Europe learning about their cultures, and studying the great art found there.  Likely this sketch from 1875 and with notes on the margin of the drawing, was done while he was a passenger on the SS City of Montreal sailing from Europe to the US.  Other sketches in the sketchbook also seem to have been completed about the same date, just by being in the same sketchbook.  Some are dated 1873, but many others have the same 1875 date.

A really beautifully composed sketch of men sitting upon a fishing boat. It may be interesting to compare these sketches to the “Boat, in Charcoal & Watercolor” also in the Gallery. 

Men pulling in the nets.

Some sketches date 1873 and one noted as Victor Emanuel.  Victor Emmanuel II  was King of Sardinia from 1849 until 1861, when he assumed the title of King of Italy and became the first king of an independent, united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878.

Following his Antwerp studies, Millet set up an apartment in Rome, Italy and painted in several locations around the country.

The location of some sketches are not noted.

The final sketch in this group may be from as late as 1777-1878 when millet returned to Europe as a war correspondent in the Russia-Turkish war.