Original artwork description:

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

A very representational, accurate and detailed painting. Here capturing these two fine sailing ships in a style that was typical of the much admired and highly respected authentic marine artists of the last century. A painting technique that combines quite loose gestural and almost impressionistic brush work, particularly in the sea with precise and intricate small brush work on the ships.

This painting depicts the famous race between these two rival ships racing from China to London in 1872. Both ships left Shanghai on 18th June sailing south through the South China Sea without losing sight of each other and passing into the Indian Ocean through the Serat Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. In the open waters of the Indian Ocean and picking up favourable trade winds the Cutty Sark increases the extent of sail canvas and begin to push ahead of the rival Thermopylae.

The Thermopylae was known to be able to sail at 7 knots in a breeze that would not extinguish a candle. However the Cutty Sark fared better in heavier weather and was generally thought to be the faster ship, she had been built to rival the Thermopylae.

Some 400 miles ahead of the Thermopylae and 150 miles east of Port Elizabeth, South Africa the Cutty Sark encountered heavy seas and lost her rudder. It took a week to make and replace the rudder by which time the Thermopylae had rounded the Cape of Good Hope and was heading north towards England. The Cutty Sark docked in London on 18th October 7 days behind the Thermopylae.

The China tea trade was very competitive. Rivalry between the tea clippers was fierce and the first shipments of the new season´s crop to reach London fetched greatly enhanced prices and brought much personal prestige to both the company and the skipper.

The Cutty Sark is the only surviving tea clipper and is preserved in Greenwich, London. She was launched in 1869 yet only had a few years as a tea clipper. That same year the Suez Canal had opened and the steamships using the canal soon monopolised the tea trade. Ships like the Cutty Sark moved on to bringing wool back from Australia.

The Thermopylae, then under Portuguese ownership was given a naval funeral in 1907. Or put bluntly, torpedoed and sunk.

Please note that for some international purchases there may be tax/duty liable (usually in the region of 5% for USA and EU). It is the responsibility of the purchaser to pay this at the time of delivery.

This painting is being offered for sale framed and ready to hang. Framed in a superb hand finished bespoke frame. Please enquire if you are interested in purchasing the painting without the frame. The unframed option would see a 10% lower cost.

Materials used:

professional quality oils on linen canvas over a hardwood stretcher

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