The Dictionary of Victorian Painters (2^nd edition) by Christopher Wood

A dictionary of British marine painters by Arnold Wilson - George Frederick Gaubert (fl1829-1861) chiefly painter of coastal scenes, particularly in France, although British scenes also represented eg at Hastings, Plymouth, and Margate. His name also spelt Gobert, titles at the Royal Academy include ‘French Fishing Boats off Calais' and ‘Near Hartlepool’. Exhibited 1829-1861(28 pictures) SS 5 pictures. Lived in Boulogne sur Mer and later at Islington.

The Dictionary of British Art Vol1V - Victorian Painters

I found this book on the Guildhall Library, London. George Frederick Gaubert (fl1829-1861; fl = the period he was working) is recorded as a painter of coastal scenes, marines, landscapes and shipping. He exhibited at the Royal Academy 1829-1861 and also exhibited 5 works at the Royal Society of British Artists at Suffolk Street, London (aka SS). He lived in Boulogne and later in Islington.

Purchase of 'Shipping' painting by George Frederick Gaubert July 2014
A couple of days ago I did some boolean permutations searching on the web for 'George Frederick Gaubert' and 'painting'. He was one of our mutual ancestors and had been a Baltic trader, a legal stationer in Chancery Lane in London from where he would have principally serviced the new adjacent famous Law Courts and was admitted in Oct 1826 to the Company 0f Spectacle Makers.

Back in the late 1970s I tried, unsuccessfully, to 'retrieve' an old wooden gargoyle from the basement of his house/office when it was being renovated. From earlier research I knew that he had also been a watercolour painter of some talent having exhibited at The Royal Academy in London.

The web search showed that during May a few weeks ago, one of his watercolour paintings came up for sale at the well-known auction house of Boningtons in London. I rang Boningtons and asked them to put me in contact with the purchaser. Last night that buyer rang me. He lives less than 10 minutes from me in a nearby village. We agreed a sale/purchase and he delivered the painting to me today. It is unknown if the painting is one of those recorded on the list of his exhibited. Boningtons had it titled just as 'Shipping' so I will be taking it to a professional framer to remove a modern tape on the back to see the handwritten signature etc. The painting is about 182 years old and in excellent condition. Today I have contacted Doctors Eric & Janet Hall, retired and living on the south coast. Eric is related to Lucy Gaubert of the Russian branch. He has about 6 GFG paintings that he has filmed and which are shown above - RMG 13.07.2014.