Seascape from the 'Birkdale'

An impressionistic sketch of a sunset from the deck of the 'Birkdale'. The sea is shown flat calm with the profile of land against the skyline, visible in the distance on the right and left. The effects of the sunset are shown by a series of horizontal bands of colour ranging from purple near the horizon to pale blue high in the sky. On either side of the sketch several blotches of colour represent low cloud. 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 'Birk' verso.

Object Details

ID: BHC0093
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: 251 x 355 mm
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