Historical information

Acquired by Portland Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA) as a winner of its annual Art Price in 1964; later presented by CEMA to Portland Town Council.

Physical description

View of the interior of a cave. In foreground is a triangular pool of dark blue water with lighter highlights. The walls of the cave curve up both sides of the water, meeting at the back of the cave. At back of cave is a ledge with 7 seals on it. One seal is diving into the water. The walls are painted in brown and dark blue, the seals in pale blue with highlights in white.

Inscriptions & markings

Front: Malseed (lower right, red paint)
Back: Nancy Malseed "Seal Cave"
Portland Art Gallery Trust, c/c C. Woolcock (upper and mid left, black felt tip pen).