Original artwork description:

An original traditional marine oil on linen canvas depicting two of the most famous tea clippers of the 19th century.

The 1872 race between the Cutty Sark and the Thermopylae is a well documented piece of rivalry between these two splendid examples of sailing ship and of course their captains, crews and owners. These ships and other clippers famously raced from China to London with cargoes of tea. The first ship home fetched the highest price for the tea so these annual races were always hard fought.

Depicted here, just after dawn on 17th August 1872, following a period in the South China Sea with little or no wind the wind has now picked up and the Cutty Sark is edging ahead as the ships start to cross the Indian Ocean heading towards the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

The Thermopylae was launched in Aberdeen in 1868 and Cutty Sark, specifically designed and built to compete was also launched in Scotland the following year, ironically the same year that the Suez Canal was opened. The Suez Canal significantly reduced the voyage distance to the Far East and soon ended the monopoly of the clipper ships in the China tea trade as only steamships were able to use the canal. Many of the tea clippers moved to the wool trade from Australia and where the Cutty Sark and Thermopylae raced again.

The Thermopylae was first to reach London in the 1872 tea race as the Cutty Sark had lost her rudder in severe weather and was delayed by six days while a jury rudder was constructed and fitted. In subsequent years with both ships now racing home with wool from Australia, returning home across the Pacific and around Cape Horn the Cutty Sark won all eight races. Of the two ships it is known that the Thermopylae performed better in calmer seas whereas the Cutty Sark was better suited in heavier weather.

The Cutty Sark, the only surviving tea clipper is now preserved in dry dock at Greenwich, London. The Thermopylae was given a ´naval funeral´ in 1907 under Portuguese ownership.

Painted in a representational style with plenty of accurate and authentic detail.

Offered for sale ready to hang in a bespoke hand finished top notch frame. Also available without the frame and a minor reduction in the price, do please enquire.

Shipped UK and internationally in a purpose built plywood box to provide safe transit.

Materials used:

professional quality oils on linen canvas over a hardwood stretcher

Tags:

#sea #ocean #tea #atmospheric #nautical #marine #framed painting #naval #tall ships #sailing ships #sun rise #maritime history #tea clippers