Maritime Art Archive
The Electric (c.1860)
The clipper ship Electric is shown sailing on the port tack in a brisk breeze and on choppy seas. The small vessel in the foreground is a New York pilot boat, flying a distinctive ‘P’ flag. The flag flown by the Electric is particularly interesting, being an early form of the flag of the United […] Read More
The Goulden Leeuw Engaging the Royal Prince at the Battle of the Texel, 11 August 1673
This image shows an important moment in the Battle of the Texel, fought on 11 August 1673 between the Dutch on one side and the English and French as allies on the other. The Allies sought to lure the Dutch away from their coast, defeat them and subsequently launch an invasion. As was usual in […] Read More
The China War 1857: Junks Surrounded in Smoke (1857)
This is one of nine watercolours made during the second Opium War (1856-60) by Thomas Goldsworthy Dutton. The war was a major victory for the British over the Qing Dynasty and led to the legalisation of opium trade as well as a permanent diplomatic presence in China for Britain, France and Russia. The fighting was […] Read More
Mussel Fishing (II) (1622)
This oil painting was made in the Netherlands in 1622 by Julius Porcellis, the son of Jan Porcellis, who was widely considered to be one of the finest marine artists – of his time though Julius inherited a great deal of his father’s skill. It is one of two images of mussel fishing by Julius […] Read More
Dutch Ships sailing off a Rocky Shore (1610-1615)
This painting forms a part of a collection of 79 early Netherlandish marine paintings purchased in 1963 with the assistance of the Society from the widow of Captain Eric Palmer. Eric Palmer (1896–1961), a great character, was one of the Palmer shipbuilding family and was long connected with the Museum as its advisor on the […] Read More
Morning: A lugger close on a wind; and an Indiaman preparing to weigh.
An engraving by Robert Havell (1769-1832) of a painting by Joseph Cartwright (1789-1829). The lugger is shown on the port tack making ground to windward with all sail set and her reefs out. In the background is an East Indiaman, preparing to weigh. Cartwright had the maritime world in his blood. He was born in […] Read More
The Wreck of the ‘Amsterdam’ c.1630
This painting is part of the extraordinary collection of early Netherlandish marine paintings collected by Captain Eric Palmer and purchased in 1963 with the assistance of the Society from his widow. It was purchased by Palmer prior to 1950. The painting bursting with energy shows a large ship being beaten by waves at the foot of […] Read More
Cape Coast Castle, West Africa
A drawing of Cape Coast Castle in West Africa, attributed to three artists, J. Barrow, John Hill, and G. Webster, and a companion piece to a drawing also purchased by the Society for Nautical Research for the collections of the National Maritime Museum, of Christianborg Castle, also in West Africa. Like Christianborg, Cape Coast Castle […] Read More
Christianborg Castle, West Africa (1806)
A drawing of Christianborg Castle in West Africa, attributed to three artists, J. Barrow, John Hill, and G. Webster. Christianborg Castle is otherwise known as Osu Castle, situated on a promontory in Accra, Ghana. The area was first colonised by the Portuguese in the mid-sixteenth century before passing to the control of Sweden in 1650. […] Read More
An Action of the Four Days’ Battle, 1-4 June 1666 (after 1666)
The Four Days Battle, fought during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, is known for being one of the longest naval battles in history. Fought in the North Sea between the Dutch and the English between 1-4 June 1666 the two sides eventually separated, exhausted with a large number of casualties on both sides. This painting by […] Read More