This is the first, and largest (74 cm x 104 cm) of two impressive 19th century maritime paintings of famous American clippers, that we will be offering for sale. The ''Ocean Express'' was built in 1854 by J O Curtis at Melford, which is in the vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts. When we were offered these ship portraits, they were not in the best of condition (please see image). Each canvas had been pierced in several areas which had caused some paint loss. However, we felt, because of the important role they played in America''s maritime past and their high decorative appeal, they deserved some sympathetic conservation. Before we started work, the backs of each canvas were photographed to document the notation on the reverse (please see image). The canvases have now been re-lined with fine linen using wax as the bonding agent - this traditional method, may not be the most visually appealing, but it stabilises the painted surface during times of atmospheric change, and allows future c...