Fine Art Emporium___The Site for Marine Art

Excellent Ship Portrait of the German Barque *Antuco* (of Hamburg) sailing to Australia, ca. 1900 - the vessel is shown under full sail at moderate sea off a Rock Headland with a light house and with two-masted vessel in the background - Oil on artist`s board - 48 by 62,5 cm (19 by 24 inch), with frame 62 x 76 cm (24 by 30 inch) - inscribed on the bow with the ship`s name and signed lower right "W. Edgar, Charlestown Studios, NSW - cleaned and in good condition - Private Collection, Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.A.

Note: The large steel Barque "Antuco" (75 Meter Lenght, 1532 Tons) was built in 1892 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg and owned by the Hamburg Shipping Company N.H.P. Schuldt. Captains in command were D. Thedens (1892), H.N. Spiess (1893-1900) and W. Kröger (1901-07). It was a highly appreciated ship by both the owners and captains & crew and many fast travels to Southern America and Australia wer noted. In 1908 Antuco was sold to the Hamburg Shipping Company of 1896 and Capt. L. Müller was in command until 1912 when it was finally sold to Grimstad.

William Edgar
(Australian, fl. 1898-1918)

* Photo Copyright is with the FineArtEmporium *

For more information about the vessel, see the fine description in the book "Hamburgs Segelschiffe 1795-1945" by Meyer - on page 165 (with examples of the travels and an old photo).

We are of the opinion, that this is one of the best paintings which has been done by the Australian School of Ship Portrait Artists around the turn of the century. The detail and accurate execution is just amazing. The "Antuco" was one of the so called "Wool Clippers" (Australian route) or "Nitrate Clippers" (heading for South America) - large Windjammer sailing barques and ships who was on the route to Australia and Southern America around 1900 and until World War I still more economic than the steamers.