Gulf of Mexico from the 'Birkdale'

An impressionistic sketch showing the Gulf of Mexico from the 'Birkdale'. The calm sea is loosely painted and forms a visual contrast to the dark sky. A bank of cloud sits horizontally across the painting, and the sun can be seen weakly through the clouds. The artist has concentrated on the cloud formation over the sea which towers in the distance, right of centre, to create visual effect and is highlighted with tinges of pink. Everett joined the barque, 'Birkdale', and sailed from Bristol to Sabine Pass, Texas, April to June 1920. It was his first journey after World War I. The 'Birkdale' was due to take sulphur from Texas to the Cape, but when she arrived in Texas the ship was re-chartered to Australia and so Everett reluctantly left her and came home by steamer. The 'Birkdale', built in 1892, was the last barque to fly the red ensign and spent nearly all her working life in the Chilean nitrate trade. For a short time after World War I she switched to taking sulphur from Texas to the Cape. The 'Birkdale' went back to the nitrate trade and was wrecked on the Chilean coast after catching fire in 1927. The painting is inscribed 'Birkdale Gulf of Mexico' verso.

Object Details

ID: BHC0076
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Everett, (Herbert Barnard) John
Vessels: Birkdale (1892)
Date made: 1920
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Bequeathed by the artist 1949.
Measurements: Painting: 252 x 355 mm
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