What defines British nineteenth-century marine painting?

British marine painting of the nineteenth century focused on maritime commerce, naval conflicts, and coastal landscapes. Artists emphasised atmospheric sky conditions, detailed ship architecture, and dramatic sea states to capture Britains extensive naval history.

What traditional materials were used to create marine oil paintings?

These works were executed using oil-based pigments applied to natural linen or cotton canvas stretched over wooden stretcher bars. Frames were typically crafted from timber and detailed with composition ornament finished in gold leaf.

How can one identify an authentic antique maritime oil painting?

Authentic period paintings display natural craquelure across the varnish and paint layers, alongside oxidation on the reverse of the canvas and stretcher. Construction methods such as hand-cut stretchers and traditional joinery on the gilt frame further indicate age.

How do you style a classic seascape painting in a contemporary interior?

A dark maritime painting adds historical weight when hung above a fireplace mantel or console table. Integrating the piece alongside dark timber furniture, brass accents, and neutral walls creates a balanced contrast between traditional artwork and modern surroundings.

How should an antique oil painting on canvas be cared for?

Keep the canvas away from direct sunlight, extreme temperature fluctuations, and high humidity to prevent warping and paint loss. Dust the frame gently with a soft dry brush, and consult a professional conservator for surface cleaning or varnish repair.

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Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Name: Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1237009
Price: 8000 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

Description

Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning HMS Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Late 19th Century Victorian Naval Painting of the Royal Navy Ship HMS Bombay Burning off Montevideo

Highlights

Late 19th century British oil on canvas

British School, after Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895

Depicts the burning of HMS Bombay in 1864

Based on Beecheys Royal Academy composition of 1866

Royal Navy maritime disaster subject

Rescue boats and survivors depicted

Historic inscription verso

Later Larson Juhl gilt wood frame

Private marine collection provenance

Introduction

A dramatic late 19th century British naval marine oil painting depicting the burning and abandonment of HMS Bombay off Montevideo on 14 December 1864, after the composition by Royal Navy officer and marine painter Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895.

HMS Bombay dominates the scene, engulfed in flames and immense clouds of smoke. In the foreground, a crowded ships boat carries escaping sailors across the dark water. Further boats and survivors can be seen around the burning vessel, together with broken spars and floating wreckage.

Catalogue Details

Artist and Attribution: British School, After Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895

Subject: Burning and Abandonment of HMS Bombay

Date: Circa 1870, late 19th century

Medium: Oil on canvas

Location: River Plate, off Montevideo, Uruguay

Signature: Indistinct possible initials lower right

Inscription: Old manuscript inscription relating to HMS Bombay verso

Frame: Later Larson Juhl moulded gilt wood frame

Catalogue Note

The painting captures HMS Bombay at the height of the disaster. Pale grey, cream and ochre smoke rises above the ship and is punctuated by orange and red flames.

The hull, masts, spars and surviving rigging remain visible through the smoke. A crowded rescue boat occupies the foreground, with further boats and survivors closer to the ship.

The dark blue green sea and floating wreckage add to the dramatic account of evacuation and survival.

HMS Bombay

HMS Bombay was an 84 gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built of teak at Bombay Dockyard and launched on 17 February 1828.

She was converted to auxiliary screw propulsion in 1861 and later served on the South American Station.

On 14 December 1864 fire broke out aboard the vessel near Montevideo during gunnery exercises. The blaze spread rapidly and destroyed the ship. Ninety three of her complement of 619 lost their lives.

Richard Brydges Beechey

Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895 was a Royal Navy officer and marine painter. A son of Sir William Beechey RA, his naval career gave him first hand knowledge of ships and maritime conditions.

His depiction of the destruction of HMS Bombay was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1866, number 34.

Museum Research

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, holds a version of HMS Bombay on fire by George Cochrane Kerr, inscribed GE Kerr After Beechey.

Another Kerr version is recorded at the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth.

The present painting follows Beecheys established composition. No attribution to George Cochrane Kerr is presently made.

Provenance

Private marine collection, Southern England.

Subsequently curated and presented by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Dimensions

Framed 56.3 cm high x 71 cm wide x 3.5 cm deep

Approximately 22.17 inches high x 27.95 inches wide x 1.38 inches deep

Condition Report

Historic condition consistent with age.

The painting has age related craquelure, foxing and staining. Minor historic paint touch ups are present to the lower smoke and ship area, with a small repair to the reverse of the canvas.

The later gilt frame has minor imperfections and wear.

Please examine all photographs as part of the condition report.

Shipping

Worldwide professional shipping is available.

Certificate of Sale and Dealer Attribution

Supplied with a Certificate of Sale and Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Physical Dimensions

Height

56.3cm (22.17")

Width

71cm (27.95")

Depth

3.5cm (1.38")

Declaration

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd has dated this Antique Marine Oil Painting to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1237009

Dealers Internal Reference

CAC-SK-0337

Dealers Notes

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Description

Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning HMS Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Late 19th Century Victorian Naval Painting of the Royal Navy Ship HMS Bombay Burning off Montevideo

Highlights

Late 19th century British oil on canvas

fig 1. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 1. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

British School, after Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895

Depicts the burning of HMS Bombay in 1864

Based on Beecheys Royal Academy composition of 1866

Royal Navy maritime disaster subject

Rescue boats and survivors depicted

fig 2. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 2. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Historic inscription verso

Later Larson Juhl gilt wood frame

Private marine collection provenance

Introduction

A dramatic late 19th century British naval marine oil painting depicting the burning and abandonment of HMS Bombay off Montevideo on 14 December 1864, after the composition by Royal Navy officer and marine painter Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895.

HMS Bombay dominates the scene, engulfed in flames and immense clouds of smoke. In the foreground, a crowded ships boat carries escaping sailors across the dark water.

“

Further boats and survivors can be seen around the burning vessel, together with broken spars and floating wreckage.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd

fig 3. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 3. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Catalogue Details

Artist and Attribution: British School, After Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895

Subject: Burning and Abandonment of HMS Bombay

Date: Circa 1870, late 19th century

Medium: Oil on canvas

Location: River Plate, off Montevideo, Uruguay

fig 4. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 4. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Signature: Indistinct possible initials lower right

Inscription: Old manuscript inscription relating to HMS Bombay verso

Frame: Later Larson Juhl moulded gilt wood frame

Catalogue Note

The painting captures HMS Bombay at the height of the disaster. Pale grey, cream and ochre smoke rises above the ship and is punctuated by orange and red flames.

fig 5. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 5. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

The hull, masts, spars and surviving rigging remain visible through the smoke. A crowded rescue boat occupies the foreground, with further boats and survivors closer to the ship.

The dark blue green sea and floating wreckage add to the dramatic account of evacuation and survival.

fig 6. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 6. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

HMS Bombay

HMS Bombay was an 84 gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built of teak at Bombay Dockyard and launched on 17 February 1828.

She was converted to auxiliary screw propulsion in 1861 and later served on the South American Station.

fig 7. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 7. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

On 14 December 1864 fire broke out aboard the vessel near Montevideo during gunnery exercises. The blaze spread rapidly and destroyed the ship. Ninety three of her complement of 619 lost their lives.

Richard Brydges Beechey

fig 8. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 8. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Richard Brydges Beechey 1808-1895 was a Royal Navy officer and marine painter. A son of Sir William Beechey RA, his naval career gave him first hand knowledge of ships and maritime conditions.

His depiction of the destruction of HMS Bombay was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1866, number 34.

fig 9. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 9. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Museum Research

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, holds a version of HMS Bombay on fire by George Cochrane Kerr, inscribed GE Kerr After Beechey.

Another Kerr version is recorded at the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth.

fig 10. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 10. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

The present painting follows Beecheys established composition. No attribution to George Cochrane Kerr is presently made.

Provenance

Private marine collection, Southern England.

Subsequently curated and presented by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

fig 11. An antique oil painting depicting a burning nineteenth-century ship on a dark sea, enclosed in a heavily moulded gold gilt frame. — fig 11. Antique British Marine Oil Painting Burning of Hms Bombay 1864 After Beechey

Dimensions

Framed 56.3 cm high x 71 cm wide x 3.5 cm deep

Approximately 22.17 inches high x 27.95 inches wide x 1.38 inches deep

Condition Report

Historic condition consistent with age.

The painting has age related craquelure, foxing and staining. Minor historic paint touch ups are present to the lower smoke and ship area, with a small repair to the reverse of the canvas.