The SS Great Britain, outward bound
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Object number1997.189
TitleThe SS Great Britain, outward bound
DescriptionPainting of the SS Great Britain leaving Liverpool, probably in the 1860s or 1870s. A port profile of the ship in the configuration of 1857 - 1876 as a fully-rigged ship. All sails are set of the three square-rigged masts and smoke is coming from the funnel (buff with a black top). The flag at the main mast top indicates that the ship is jointly managed by Gibbs, Bright & Co. and the Black Ball line, which at the time operated vessels carrying migrants to Australia. The Great Britain commenced sailings under joint management in 1859 and was advertised under the name of the Liverpool and Australia Steam Navigation Company.
A shoreline is visible in the background on the right, with a Liverpool pilot boat visible in the background to the left together with three other sailing vessels in the far distance.
This painting was produced by an unknown pierhead artist of the Chinese school (indicated by the style and method of painting the waves). The artist was most likely based in Liverpool and the painting could potentially have been produced for Captain John Gray who was in command of the ship between 1854 - 1872. The ship is shown with a blue ensign which she would have been entitled to fly with her commander John Gray enlisted in the Royal Navy Reserve.
Production date 1859 - 1872
Object nameoil on canvas
Object categoryvisual art
Dimensions
- overall height: 640 mm
overall width: 950 mm
sight size height: 430 mm
sight size width: 760 mm
Credit lineCourtesy of the SS Great Britain Trust. Kindly donated by Mr George Henry Webb.
