Fine Art Emporium - Ship Portraits, Marine Art and Nautical Antiques
 
Art Gallery of Old Ship Portraits and Marine Paintings
 
A Selection of Early Sailing Vessels of all countries (built before 1830) - Updated
Portrait of Capt. Barber

The period from 1780 to 1830 is nowadays known as one of the most exiting time in maritime history. Foreign countries and islands around the world were explored, large man-of-war were build to fight in the sea battles of the Napolonic and other Wars.

Algerian Pirates, such as Hassan Pascha, was frightening the crews of the merchant vessels. The sea was ruled by taught man, some of them stayed away from home for years to catch whales in the arctic or to do service on a Naval ship in overseas tropical waters.

In the maritime art the Dutch, French and British Schools was leading. Artists such as Hoogerheyden or Buttersworth Senior (see examples on this on this and the following page) painted the large ships of the line with great detail. The first ship portraits appeared in Britain, Italy and France. In Britain these were usually expensive and large oilpaintings - and only wealthy merchant captains or leading members of the Navy could afford them.

In Italy and France arose a school of artists who painted very fine ship portraits in watercolor and gouache, which were less expensive. A typical representative is Antoine Roux of Marseilles, who was famous on both sides of the Atlantic. Also in Scandinavia - with its close relation to the sea - we find some artists, who painted ships already. Lonning (see below) or J. Petersen (2nd page) are good examples for the high standard of Scandinavian art of that period.

If we think today of the days of Nelson`s *Victory* or the *Constitution* in America, we`ll feel a fascination which exists since 200 years and which will remain in the 21st Century...

Please refer to the links for more informations about the artists:

Image of Engel Hoogerheyden Painting

Engel Hoogerheyden - Two East India Man at choppy seas with the eye of a Hurricane beyond, ca. 1795, with a lot of seafarers shown on the vessels - signed with initials "E.H." lower left on a piece of floating wood - Oil on panel - 27 x 40 cm - the possession of a Private Collection in Bremen, Germany

Note: Typical for the artist is the very detailled drawing of the depicted vessels and the smooth handling of the waves. Rarely we find such exciting light effects in his works like shown on this pciture. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Image of Guerin Painting

P.N. Guerin - Ship Portrait of the French full-rigged Ship "Le Sully, Capt. M. Michel" 1807, signed and dated, Watercolor, ca. 40 x 60 cm, paper is toned by sunlight, the possession of a Private Collector in Hamburg, Northern Germany

Note: The main profession of this artist was not to produce ship portraits. Although this picture is technically right and detailed, the composition is overall somewhat stiff. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Image of Lönning Painting

T.E. Lonning - Battle Scene with the Danish Man-of-War "Prins Christian Frederik" fighting against British Ships during the Napolonic Wars 1808, Gouache on paper, ca. 45 x 60 cm, very good condition, original carved gilt frame- the possession of a European Collection

Note: This image shows only a detail of the picture. This composition was also published as a print in the period. This is a extraordinary detailled excuted work. Click on the image to see a larger illustration. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Image of Buttersworth Painting

Thomas Buttersworth Sen. - The British Man-of-War St. George (Flaggship of Nelson) in a Gale 1808, the vessel is hit by a severe wave, inscribed and dated on reverse, Oil on board, ca. 25 x 38 cm, good condition, the possession of a Private Collector in Great Britain

Note: Although not signed this painting can be attributed to Buttersworth Senior. Despite the depiction of the famous British ship this stormy picture is a weaker work by the artist. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Pirate Napoleonic Warse

Jens Iversen (1788-1855) attr. - Ship Portrait of the Privateer (Pirate) *Juliane Sophie of Copenhagen* chased by the British Brigg *Musqwetto* 1809 - the sloop is shown with three captured ships attacked by the Royal Navy Brigg off an Island - Gouache and Watercolor on paper, heightened with white, 22 by 36 cm (8 5/8 by 14 inch), with frame 47 x 56 cm (18 1/2 by 22 inch) - extensively inscribed with title (see below) and dated 1809 - tanned paper and ago signs otherwise ok - recent mounting and frame - Private Collection, Denmark

Note: The full inscription reads as following: "Privateren Juliane Sophie af Kiöbenhavn forfulgt med 3-de Priser af de engelske Slop of War Brig Musqwetto den 12. May 1809" - From the inscription and style we suppose this picture has been done by Jens Iversen (1788-1855), but there were several other artists active in this period. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.





Image of Ship Portrait

Johann Hinrich Friedrich Meyer (German, 1792-1870) - Ship Portrait of the German Galeas "BETRIEBSAMKEIT Capt. J.P. Hoefft 1817", the vessel of Lubecka off a flat coastline – signed "J.H.F. Mey (er)" and inscribed with title - Watercolor - 38 x 49 cm (15 x 19 1/4 in.) - The Werder Collection Germany

Note: The Galeas *Betriebsamkeit* was first registered in Lubecka in 1805. When the vessel was built it could not be verified. The galeas was declared a total loss in 1826. A similar watercolor can be found in the Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte der Hansestadt Luebeck (Lubecka). The painter J.H.F. Meyer was a seafarer and helmsman on the *Betriebsamkeit* in 1816. After 1818 he was captain of the *Freyheit* of Lubecka. Click on the image to enlarge the picture. Photo Copyright is with the Werder Collection, Germany.



Image of Buttersworth Painting

Thomas Buttersworth Jun. - A British Frigate chasing a Spanish Frigate at sea, executed at the beginning of the 19th Century, the vessels in action and sailing at full speed, indistincly signed "T. Buttersworth", Oil on canvas, 55 x 68 cm, good condition, period gilt frame - Private Collection in the United States of America

Note: Very diffcult to say, if this work has been executed by the father or son. Because of the style of the water we suppose that this is a high quality work of Buttersworth Junior. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Image of Ship Portrait

G. Hansen (European, early 19th Century) - Ship Portrait of the German Bark OECONOMIE von Flensubrg, Capt. I. Nickelsen, ca. 1820, the vessel on the open sea with a French ship in the background – signed "gezeichnet von G. Hansen" and inscribed with title - Pen, Ink and Watercolor - 29 x 37 cm (11 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.) - The Werder Collection, Germany

Note: The Bark *Oeconomie* was built in Flensburg by the ship yard Knut Knudsen in Jürgensby for the shipping company R. Ingwersen and E. Jacobsen. Captain I. Nickelsen was born in Westerland on the Island of Sylt on 13th of October 1761 and died on the 17th of January 1835 in his hometown. Click on the image to enlarge the picture. Photo Copyright is with the Werder Collection, Germany.



Image of Jakob Petersen Picture

Jacob Petersen (Danish, 1774-1855) - Ship Portrait of the Danish full-rigged Ship "Ingeborg af Kjöbenhavn fört af Capt. P.E. Emmerich, Seglerin til Norge 18. Nov. 1824", the vessel at sea with a coastline and a Pilot Schooner beyond, Watercolor, 50 x 66 cm, signed, inscribed with title and dated by Jakob Petersen – Private Collection in Northern Germany

Note: A record of the ship`s journey to Norway in 1824. The waves are heightened with white. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Image of Cammillieri Painting

N.S. Cammillieri - Ship Portrait of the English Brig "Harriot, Commander E.N. Norley 1828", the vessel is leaving Valetta harbor, signed, dated and inscribed, Watercolor, 46 x 58 cm, period frame, the possession of a Private Collector in Northern Germany

Note: A typical composition by the artist with a technically very well done portrait of the vessel in the Mediterranean Sea. Not all the works by this artist are signed but can be recognized easily. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the Fine Art Emporium.



Image of Roux Ship Portrait

Antoine Roux - Ship Portrait of the British full-rigged Ship: *Arion*, 1828 – The vessel under full sail in the Mediterranean (near Marseilles) with local sailing vessels in the background – Watercolor, heightened with white – 43 x 57 cm (17 x 22 1/2 in.) – signed and dated "Ant. Roux, 1828" and incribed with the ship`s name – fair condition (laid down on cardboard, faded, smaller tears at the edges, inpaint), 19th Century gold frame - The Baltic Sea Collection

Note: Antoine Roux (pere) from Marseilles (Southern France) is a well known ship portrait artist who worked in Watercolor. Especially American Museums holds a large number of his works and there has been written extensively about him and his sons, who continued the workshop. Since he is so well known, there are appearing regularly fakes of his works on the market. Please note that there are reflections from the glass on the image and that it a little bit larger than the part shown on this picture. Click on the image or here to see a larger illustration. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.



Image of Weyts Painting

Petrus Weyts *Vue sur le Port d`Ostende*, painted in the 1830s – with a portrait of the Belgian Bark *Jean Key* entering the harbor of Ostend – Reverse on Glass painting - 54 x 70 cm – inscribed with title in the lower center, name of the vessel inscribed on the flag – good condition, in the original veneered walnut frame – European Collection

Note: Although not signed, this picture can be attributed firmly to Petrus Weyts, who started his career as a ship portrait artist in Ostend. The Bark *Jean Key* (built 1829) was the first transatlantic vessel from Belgium, who sailed to America with cargo, mail and emigrants - we are grateful to Dr. Pieter De Pauw, who provided information on this painting. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations.



Please note, that the shown paintings are not for sale, for works available for purchase please visit our Sales Category.
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