A fine 19th century oil on canvas painting "off Portsmouth harbour "  
signed and indistinctly dated 1844, the size of the painting being approx. 45 x 80 cm whilst overall size being 100 cm x 64 cm
Housed in a gilt frame. In very good condition  Cleaned and lined  with some minor stable craquelure
Frame good condition with only a few minor losses which have been gilded over

Portsmouth Harbour is a 1,264.2-hectare  biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Portsmouth and Gosport in Hampshire. It is a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area.
The mouth of the harbour provides access to the Solent. It is best known as the home of the Royal Navy, HMNB Portsmouth. Because of its strategic location on the south coast of England, protected by the natural defence of the Isle of Wight, it has since the Middle Ages been the home to England's (and later Britain's) navy. The narrow entrance, and the forts surrounding it gave it a considerable advantage of being virtually impregnable to attack from the sea. Before the fortifications were built the French burned Portsmouth in 1338. During the civil war parliamentary forces were able to carry out a successful cutting-out expedition within the harbour and capture the six-gunned Henrietta Marie.
                                             John Callow (1822-1878)
 
John Callow was taught by his brother, the artist William Callow. He became a member of the New Watercolour Society, and an associate of the Old Watercolour Society. He was junior professor of drawing at the Royal Military College, Addiscombe from 1855 to 1861.He was master of landscape at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, 1861–5 and professor at Queen's College, London, 1875-8. He painted marine subjects and landscapes.
 
His work is on view at many galleries/museums and at Philipps house, Dinton (national trust)