Charles Taylor, Jr. (British, active 1843-1883)

Watercolor on paper, inscribed and signed on the reverse.

Sight Size: 17” x 28.5”
Frame: 27” x 38”

Charles Taylor, Jr. was the son of a history and maritime painter of the same name. He participated in over seventy-five London exhibitions, including four at the Royal Academy. Taylor, Jr. was known for his paintings of the Thames estuary; this work, however, is a “portrait” of a ship whose history reflects the expanse of the British Empire at 19th century.

The ship, originally named the Punjaub, was built as a steam frigate by Wadia of Bombay for East India Marine in 1854. It was later purchased by John Willis, was converted to sail and renamed the C.S. Tweed. The ship was famous for a particularly swift passage to Australia under Captain W. Stewart. The C.S. Tweed was broken up in 1888

Taylor’s depiction shows the ship after its conversion. An intricate web of ropes suggest the artistry and the engineering of the ship’s construction; though delicately rendered, they withstand the force of full sails in the wind.