Description

Title: Large Painting Sealer Whaler Ship Of Dundee Sinking The Rescue By William Broome

Description:

Large Dramatic Victorian Seascape Marine Oil Painting – “Sealer & Whaler Steam Ship of Dundee Floundering, Rescued by RLNI Lifeboat James Sturm” – William Broome (c.1890)

Subject & Medium
This is a large-scale Victorian oil on canvas, painted with remarkable skill and emotional force by the renowned British marine artist William Broome (1838–1892). The subject is one of the most gripping themes of 19th-century maritime art: a steam-assisted Dundee whaling vessel, wrecked by ferocious storm seas, saved from tragedy by the gallantry of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Broome’s choice of subject was not coincidental; these paintings captured the Victorian fascination with the sea’s dual nature—provider of trade and industry, yet merciless in fury. The oil medium allowed Broome to layer his pigments richly, building up depth in the foaming surf and atmosphere in the tumultuous sky, creating a work that is both heroic narrative and technical marine study.

Composition & Technique
The viewer’s eye is immediately drawn to the centre of the canvas, where the distressed steamer lurches stern-first into the surging waves. The central mast is snapped, evidence of the storm’s destructive power, while smoke trails weakly from the funnel as the engines succumb to flooding. The rigging whips violently, sails lie furled, and the crew—distraught yet defiant—cluster on deck, throwing lines to the oncoming lifeboat.
The lifeboat James Sturm, painted in crisp relief against the crashing surf, embodies courage. One lifeboatman leans perilously forward, stretching to catch a line, as the vessel bucks and heaves on the swells. Around them, seagulls skim the water, a lone barrel drifts on the current, while above, the storm-laden sky begins to fracture with fleeting light.
Broome’s technical ability shines in his brushwork: short, churning strokes for the foamy wave crests, smoother glazes for the storm sky, and confident, almost architectural precision in rendering the ship’s steel hull and rigging. His palette of deep greens, steel blues, and muted greys perfectly conveys the drama of the North Sea, while flashes of white and ochre break the monotony with light and movement. This is a masterclass in Victorian marine realism—painting not just what the sea looks like, but what it feels like to stand against its fury.

Reserve: $10,960.00

Shipping:

Domestic: Shipping rates are determined by destination

International: Foreign shipping rates are determined by destination. International shipping may be subject to VAT.

Combined shipping: Please ask about combined shipping for multiple lots before bidding.

Location: This item ships from United Kingdom

Your purchase is protected:
In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.

Condition

Used

Buyer's Premium

20%

Large Painting Sealer Whaler Ship Of Dundee Sinking The Rescue By William Broome

Name: Large Painting Sealer Whaler Ship Of Dundee Sinking The Rescue By William Broome
SKU: 225794208
Price: 5000 USD
Availability: InStock