Oil on silk                                                                                          19 th Century

Unframed 16 1/2" L x 12" H                                                           Framed  22 1/2" x 18 1/2"

Unsigned 

 

 

Presented is a China Trade painting of the full rigged ship UNDINE* flying all her sails, but the furled mizzen course. She is sailing close hauled on the port tack and majestically slicing through the brilliant blue water. There are a number of other sailing vessels in the background, one flying a French flag, and the other an American. A city with towering buildings is to the left of the viewer and has a French flag flying. UNDINE, whose name appears on her trailboard is approaching a major port which is typical of China Trade ship portraits. From the truck of her foremast is the Dutch flag which would indicate the port she is off was of that nationality. But this is an ambiguity considering the flag on the tower and the small vessel being French. Only the artist knows the reason for this paradox.

 

A long navy style commissioning pennant streams from her main mast which may designate this vessel as being in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Merchant ships were authorized by the Secretary of the Navy to fly this flag. The practice in European Navies dates back to the 17th century, stemming from an incident between the warring Dutch and English Navies. In one particular engagement, Maarten Harpertszoon Troomp, the Dutch Admiral, hoisted a broom at his masthead to indicate his intention to sweep the English from the sea. The English Admiral then hoisted a horsewhip, indicating his intention to chastise the insolent Dutchman. Ever since that time, the narrow "coachwhip" pennant, symbolizing the original horsewhip has been the distinctive mark of a man-of-war. This tradition of so designating ships of war has been adopted by all nations. The United States Navy commissioning pennant is blue at the hoist with a horizontal red and white stripe at the fly and varies in length with the size of the ship.

 

The 16 star American flag, flying from her mizzen is known to have been used at sea, and likely dates the scene as around 1817. The mountainous terrain makes one think of the coast of France or the French East Indies which included Borneo. The sky is a brilliant blue with many fair weather clouds. A truly majestic ship done in the China Trade style and unsigned.

 

The painting is under glass which allows the silk cloth upon which it is painted to be seen and has a black reverse painted border. The molding appears to be original. The condition of the painting is excellent. 

* UNDINE, A mythical female water nymph capable of acquiring a soul through marriage with a mortal. Also spelled Ondine. Undine is a mythological figure of European tradition, a water nymph who becomes human when she falls in love with a man but is doomed to die if he is unfaithful to her. Derived from the Greek figures known as Nereids, attendants of the sea god Poseidon, Undine was first mentioned in the writings of the Swiss author Paracelsus, who put forth his theory that there are spirits called "undines" who inhabit the element of water. A version of the myth was adapted as the romance Undine by Baron Fouqué in 1811, and librettos based on the romance were written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816 and Albert Lortzing in 1845. Maurice Maeterlinck's play Pelléas et Mélisande (1892) was in part based on this myth, as was Ondine (1939), a drama by Jean Giraudoux. The myth was also the basis of a ballet choreographed and performed by Margot Fonteyn.

The word is from the Latin unda, meaning "wave" or "water." Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

THE SHIP UNDINE: It is recorded that the U.S. Flag ship UNDINE of 253 tonns, departed St. Elbe, Portugal on 18 June 1832 for Plymouth, MA carrying immigrants. And again on 1 January 1836, from Bristol, England to Philadelphia, PA.

 

PROVENANCE: The painting is from the collection of Mr. Townsend Hornor, a distinguished historian, sailor, philanthropist and businessman. He served on numerous boards including the Woodshole Oceanographic Institute, former chairman, Cape Cod Hospital Foundation, former president, the Osterville Historic Society, a director of the Herreshoff Marine Museum, former chairman of the Naval War College Foundation as well as many others.

Plumb bow with graceful billethead

After section

Dutch flag, Naval pennant, and American ensign

 

CHINA TRADE PAINTINGS: There were numerous artists who painted  portraits of Western vessels throughout the Orient and some migrated to Europe to practice their craft. Most did not sign their works. Their paintings were somewhat flat in their style, and more simply executed than European and American artists. Frequently the ships and landscapes in the backgrounds gave an indication of where they were painted. The paintings may have age crackles in their varnish, and many of them are in poor condition requiring restoration. They were usually presented with a carved wooden frame, in the so called Chinese Chippendale.

 

 

 

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A classic China Trade style painting of an American Clipper Ship approaching port. 

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