Seafarer from Northern Italy (19th Century) - Ex-Voto Ship Portrait "PCR Naufragio del Barco Dalmato detto *Teresa* tutti si salvarono per Grazia Divina" dated 7 Lugno 1894 - ship wreck or the Dalmatian Bark "Teresa" where all men was saved to the grace of Mary - inscribed with title and dated - Oil on panel (probably a piece from the vessel, without undercoat) - 27 x 46 cm (10 1/2 by 18 in) - original condition - North American Collection

Note: Ex Voto paintings were common Maritime Folk Art in the Catholic Southern European countries, most of these pieces are still in the families of the seafarers or in churches of harbor cities. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations.

Luca Papaluca (Sen., fl. 1890-1932) - Portrait of the Italian Brigantine "Francesco Bertolli" off Naples around 1900, signed Gouache painting (under glass) 42 x 63 cm in original, good condition (traces of age only) - Private Collection, Hamburg, Germany

Note: signed by Italian marine artist and ship portrait painter L. Papaluca (active in Italy from 1890 to 1932). An early and outstanding work by the artist. Painted with all details of the vessel. In German: Kapitänsbild der Brigantine "Francesco Bertolli", signiertes Gouache Gemälde

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Italian Pierhead Painter - Ship Portrait of the three-masted Schooner *INA* at sea, painted ca. 1900 - the vessel is shown under reduced sails in a choppy sea - inscribed lower right "M.S. INA" - Gouache on paper 38 by 53,5 cm (15 by 21 inch) - frame is old but regilted in the mid 20th C. - picture is in good condition (minor usual wear - ready to hang on the wall), no restoration visible, reflections from glass on the photo - Private Collection, Germany

Note: Three-masted Schooners of this type was mainly built and used in New England, Maritime Canada, in Scandinavia and The Netherlands. As this portrait proves these Schooners were also used for longer trips. The rigging was more easy to handle than with a square rigger and helped to save costs and crew, which was important due to the competition with the steamers. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright.

Italian Artist - Ship Portrait of the Steam Barque "Antarctic" in the Bay of Naples, ca. 1900 - Vesuvius and other shipping in the distance, Gouache on paper, ca. 38 x 55 cm, slight signs of age, otherwise good condition - Private Collection, Germany

This Swedish barque was used by Dr. Otto Nordenskoeld for his famous Antarctic expedition 1901 to 1903. He was the first explorer in history staying during winter in this area near the South Pole.

Click on photo to enlarge. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.

Italian Pierhead Painter in Naples (19/20th Century) - Ship Portrait of the British Freight Steamer "Tosno", ca. 1900, the vessel at fair weather off the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius beyond, Oil on canvas, 50 x 70 cm, good condition, Private Collection in Northern Germany

Note: Oilpainting by the Neapolitan Artists are rare, they worked mainly in Gouache. This painting shows very nice the typical light colors used by these Southern Italian Pierhead Painters. Click here or on the image to see a larger illustration. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.

Luigi Roberto (Italian, fl. 1874-1891) - Ship Portrait of the Swedish Transition Steamer "SS Freja (of) Stockhlom (sic) 1887" – the vessel with auxiliary sails set in the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius beyond (hardly visible) – Gouache – 41 x 58 cm (16 1/8 x 22 7/8 in.) – signed, inscribed and dated "L. Roberto, Napoli 1887" – good condition (the background partly faded, traces of the age), passepartout, modern gold frame - The Baltic Sea Collection

Note: Luigi Roberto is - beside of the De Simone Family - the best known Ship Portrait Artist who worked in Naples and produced detailled portraits of the sail or steam vessels and yachts, which visited this Italian port. The Gouache technique is typical for the Italian ship portraits of this period and in contrast to watercolors the appearance of Gouaches is brighter and the colors are opaque. Click on the image or here to enlarge the illustration. Photo Copyright.

Italian Pierhead Painter in Naples (20th Century) - Ship Portrait of the German Steamer TERMINI (of Hamburg) Capt. Müller, ca. 1910, the vessel is shown in the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius beyond – inscribed with title in the center - Gouache - 45 x 64 cm (17 3/4 x 25 1/4 in.) - The Werder Collection

Note: Der Dampfer *Termini* wurde 1906 in Ablasserdam von Smit für die Reederei Rob. M. Sloman jr. (Hamburg) erbaut. Neubau vom 12.3.1906. Länge 81,6 m, Breite 10,98 m, Tiefe 5,57 m, 1523 BRT, Dreifach-Expansions-Dampfmaschine, 1000 PS. Als Kapitän fuhren G. Müller von 1907/13 und G. Hansen bis zur Auslieferung 1920. Click here or on the image to see more photos.

Luigi Roberto (Italian, fl. 1874-1891) - Ship Portrait of the Royal Yacht Squadron Schooner *ZARA* ca. 1874 - the large sailing yacht is shown under full sail at moderate sea in the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius and Sorrent in the background - Gouache on paper, ca. 40 by 50 cm (16 by 20 inch) image, with frame 58 x 66 cm (23 by 26 inch) - signed "L. Roberto Naples" and inscribed with the name of yacht - light age signs, otherwise ok / good condition (no dark dust stripes) - period maple frame and under old glass - The Oporto Collection

Note: Luigi Roberto is - beside of the De Simone Family - the best known Ship Portrait Artist who worked in Naples and produced detailled portraits of the sail or steam vessels and yachts which visited this Italian port. The Gouache technique is typical for the Italian ship portraits of this period and in contrast to watercolors the appearance of Gouaches is brighter and the colors are opaque. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations.

Luca Papaluca (Sen.) - Ship Portrait of the *M.Y. "Happy Days" N.Y.Y.C.* ca. 1920 – The American Steam Yacht at calm sea in the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius beyond – Gouache – 40 x 70 cm (15 3/4 x 27 1/2 in.) – signed "L. Papaluca" l.r. and inscribed with title in the center section at the bottom – outstanding original condition (very slight foldes on the left side), in the period frame - Private Collection in New Hampshire, USA

Note: One of the most beautiful ship portraits from this artist with a bright portrait of this Yacht from the New York Yacht Club. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.

Italian Pierhead Painter in Naples (19th Century) - Ship Portrait of the German Schoonerbrigg ALBERT Capt. A. Blohm, Neaples Dezember 1865, the vessel of Neuenfelde/Jork under full sail in the bay of Naples with Vesuvius beyond – inscribed with title in the center - Gouache - 54 x 77 cm (21 1/4 x 30 1/4 in.) - The Werder Collection, Germany

Note: The ensign of the vessel indicates it as belonging to Lower Saxony (British Flag with a Horse in the Center). In the year this picture was painted the North German Union was founded and the Vessels from Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Altona, Prussia, Lubecka and Schleswig-Holstein used furtheron the new German flag (black-white-red). Click on the image to enlarge the picture.

Italian Pierhead Painter in Naples (19th Century) - Ship Portrait of the German "Schoener Brig CATO, Capt = H.Wulff" - the Schooner Brigg in the Bay of Naples at moonlight with erupting Vesuvius in the background – inscribed with title in the center - Gouache - 48 x 69 cm (19 x 27 in.) - The Werder Collection, Germany

Note: An unusual, rare and rather interesting ship portrait with the brigg in a night scene. Click here or on the image to enlarge the picture.

Antonio De Simone - Ship Portrait of the *Kaiser* Capt. Lerchau c. 1895 – The German Mail and Passenger Steamer of the DOAL Line Hamburg at sea – Gouache – 43 x 63 cm – inscribed – Private Collection in Northern Germany

Note: There are some reflections from the glass in the sky section of this photo. Click here or on the image to see a larger illustration. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.

Italian Pierhead Painter in Naples (19th Century) - Portrait of the Canadian Brigantine *Grace (of) St. John`s, Newfoundland - Rob. B. Giles Master* ca. 1880 - the vessel is shown under full sail in the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius beyond – inscribed as shown above in the centre water section - Gouache on paper - 46 x 63 cm (18 by 25 inch) – Private Collection Canada

Note: Many Italian gouaches are unsigned and it is difficult to attribute them to a certain artist because the style of the different pierhead painters working in Naples (and Italy at all) was often quite similar. It might be possible that this is a picture from the workshop of Luigi Roberto, who was one of the most active painters in this harbor. Click here or on the image to enlarge the picture.

Italian Pierhead Painter - Ship Portrait of the Norwegian Steamer "Hansa", ca. 1900-1905, the vessel under full speed at sea - inscribed with title at bottom center - Gouache - 42 x 64 cm (16 1/2 x 25 1( in.) - good condition, original frame - Collection in Northern Germany

Note: The construction of the vessel is typical for freight steamers build in the first years of the 20th Century. Click here or on the image to see a larger illustration. Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium.

Antonio De Simone - Portrait of the a steam-assisted British Schooner-Yacht at sea 1884 - the vessel is shown under moderate sail and steam on a calm sea in the Bay of Naples, crew is shown on deck - Gouache on paper, 22,5 x 33 cm - signed lower right and dated, on the first mast are shown the identification flags and on the second mast the Yacht Club burgee, on the last mast the Blue Ensign - in a period maple frame, good condition - Oporto Collection Portugal

Note: From the yacht burgee it can be supposed that this very large Schooner Yacht belonged to the RLYC (Royal London Yacht Club, founded 1836). The sign of the Yacht Club also appears on the Blue Ensign. The De Simone family were the leading Ship Portrait Artists in the port of Naples during the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century. They reported many of the fine Yachts owned by British, Continental and American Gentleman (often Industrial Tycoons) who visited this harbour during their cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. Click here or on the image to see larger illustrations * Photo Copyright *