Montague Dawson demonstrates his skill for capturing the dynamism of the seas in this monumental oil on canvas. Entitled Pounding the Waves, the work brings vividly to life the historic steel sailing ship Dumbarton Rock as it battles the waves on the open sea. The monumental oil on canvas is among the largest paintings ever composed by the artist, and every inch of the work pays homage to the beauty of ships at full sail. Dawson, arguably the most important maritime painter of his generation, possessed an incomparable talent for rendering ships at sea with an energy and vitality that was unparalleled. The speed and grace of these historic ships is perfectly realized in the present work, enhanced by Dawson's mastery over composition. Depicted against the might of the ocean, the sailing vessel Dumbarton Rock appears to rise up on the waves as it glides effortlessly through the water.

Crafted entirely from steel, Dumbarton Rock was part of the famed Rock line of iron and steel ships owned by James Cornfoot & Co. of Glasgow. Built in 1890 by Russell & Co. of Port Glasgow, she weighed over 1,700 tons and was powerfully constructed in order to withstand the heavy waves and storms of the open sea. A fire took her temporarily out of commission in Calcutta in 1893, but she was eventually repaired and sold to A. Yule & Co. of Calcutta. She would change hands five more times over the years, until she was eventually broken up in 1926. Dawson's powerful composition captures the ship at full sail and the height of her glory, battling the white-capped waves on a brilliant day at sea.

The son of a keen yachtsman and grandson of marine painter Henry Dawson, Montague Dawson spent much of his childhood on the Southampton Water, where he was able to indulge his interest in the study of ships. Naturally gifted at drawing and painting, the self-taught Dawson became a member of an art studio group in Bedford Row, London. By the age of 15, he was working on posters and illustrations to earn a living. For a brief period around 1910, Dawson worked for a commercial art studio in London, but with the outbreak of World War I, he joined the Royal Navy. Dawson was present at the final surrender of the German Grand Fleet, and many of his illustrations depicting the event were published in The Sphere.

After the War, Dawson established himself as a professional marine artist, concentrating on historical subjects and portraits of deep-water sailing ships. During the Second World War, he was employed as a war artist and again worked for The Sphere. Dawson exhibited regularly at the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Academy from 1917 to 1936. By the 1930s, he was considered the greatest living marine painter. His patrons included two American Presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as the British Royal Family.