Working from original fine quality drawings made by of their ships by the French officers, their journals and the journals of the British we have here a representation of the French ships quite unlike the work of any other marine artist.

Is there room for a Frickers painting of this subject?

Marine paintings on this subject considering the significance of the voyage at that time, by order of the King of France, to do for France what Captain James Cook did for Britain, are few and far between.

Most of  the other marine paintings and models  I have seen of this event show the wrong ships or have doubtful details.

Mostly they are far too modern, that is ships of a type used 25 years later.

Part of the confusion is caused by no existing plans of Alstolabe and Boussele both of which, deliberately following the example of Captain James Cook were converted merchantmen not true frigates.

Indeed the Astrolabe seems to have been quite an old style ship for her period.

The confusion is further compounded by the ship which in 1811 was sent to search for Laperouse.

Did you guess she was also named Astrolabe?

Or can some one prove me wrong???

In a later entry I will quote from my sources.

Right now I don’t have the time because I am very preoccupied with preparations for the Exhibition I have been invited to give at the European Parliament, Brussels, commencing 23 May.

~

Following careful further reading, I found the British journals quite contradictory.

Some said the British were at anchor when the French arrived in Botany bay, others said under weight and HMS Sirius spoke with the French.

Still other journals and even reports by the same officer stated one version in one paper, another in a second document.

What should we make of that?

We know from studies of other logs and journals from the period precise reporting was unusual.

We have to remember the journals and diaries were usually written up from memory hours or even days after the events.

Taking an average and allowing for a some what casual attitude to the exact facts by at least some of the journalists the intention here is to show some of the First Fleet getting under weigh, others sailing.

We know the First Fleet had difficulty leaving Botany bay.

Two ships collided, happily with no damage done so I have shown the ships of the First Fleet working out of Botany bay.

HMS Sirius (2 in the sketch) has tacked and is intending to pass within hail of the Astrolabe and Boussole to who she had already sent a pilot.

The “Prince of Wales” (1) has cleared the bay and she is away to be the first transport to arrive at Sydney (first that evening).

She is followed by “Golden Glover” (3) seen in the act of tacking.

Three more ships are under weigh, another is backing her topsail as she ups anchor to turn her across the wind so she can fill her sails and set her course, the remainder are still anchored.

There were 11 ships in the First fleet, only 10 are shown.

Why?

Because we know the transport “Supply” sailed to reach Sydney Cove the day before the rest of the fleet.

One account says 4 others went with her but this is unconfirmed, besides it would reduce the impact of this vigorous picture so unless it is proven we run with what we have here.

~

My particular thanks to Stephen Best who introduced me to the story of Laperouse and more recently has carried out considerable research under my guidance, to the staff of the Laperouse Museum in Albi who have been helpful and enthusiastic at all times, to the Association Laperouse d’Albi and especially to the British government’s UK Hydrographic Office staff at Taunton who gave me a wonderful welcome, were very helpful, amazed me with their historical collection and their state of the art modern digital charts and even allowed me to handle the original chart draw on Captain James Cook’s voyage.

My work at the UK Hydrographic Office  at Taunton, source of the world famous  “Admiralty” charts, was crucial in confirming the appearance of Botany bay from seaward in 1788 and where the ships would have to anchor.

The place of  anchorage also demonstrates one of the reasons why the First Fleet left Botany bay.

While Botany bay is large and lovely, much is shallow with the deeper water being exposed to bad weather.

The principal chart I used is the same original chart which drew the First Fleet and Laperouse to their surprising encounter.

Next task is to begin the underpainting.

I have been very busy completing and photographing all sorts of paintings in the past few months.
You may have followed on this blog my struggle to get the best results out of a Canon D 60?
Very soon we will start to blog and web site the new marine paintings with as much of their stories as I have time to write so watch this space.

I am hoping to have my Laperouse at Botany Bay painting completed in time to be included in the catalogue and the show.

The arrival of Laperouse at Botany Bay was an extraordinary moment.

I have read some of the original accounts.
Almost as if stage managed and yet this was the equivalent of arriving on Mars, the French entered the bay the very day the British ‘First Fleet’ was leaving.
Several artists have had a go at this moment.
I think though there is plenty of scope for an original “Frickers”.
Thus I am preparing exactly that. 
My research has taken me to some fascinating places, Albi being foremost and including a (for me at least) a breath taking moment at the UK Hydrographic Office.
The UKHO is a government and secure building responsible for among other things the most modern “Admiralty” charts on paper and these days on digital formats made to the very highest standards and available to any mariner including you and I.
There simply is no better chart than a UKHO Admiralty chart.
The UKHO may not at first seem a great subject.

The UKHO does though has a long fascinating history closely involved with the birth of the world as we know it today and the UKHO continues to discreetly influence all our daily lives.

I was given special permission to enter and was honoured to be treated like a celebrity, most kindly.
I was shown many treasures some of which will feature in other new paintings.
In this case I found myself examining with an original chart of Botany Bay draw by one of the officers of Captain James Cook and HMS Endeavour.
This would have been the very same chart that drew the First Fleet to Australia and lead to the discovery of Port Jackson and the development of the town of Sydney then onto the colonisation of Australia by Europeans.
This same chart would have drawn Laperouse to Botany Bay and his last rendezvous (do the French have a word for rendezvous?) with Europeans before he and his ships vanished into the Pacific Ocean and eternity.

To that end I was in the Museum in Albi yesterday researching the 2 French ships “l’Astrolabe” and “La Boussole” (Boussole means compass and Astolabe ahh excuse me,  you can probably figure that one out with out me! ) and an exhibition of my marine paintings there was proposed at the museum, very nice of them.
You may be aware the voyage of Laperouse was literally the French response to the voyages of James Cook which created huge excitement and had an enormous impact on Europeans.
The French considered Captain Cook so important they forbade all French ships from attacking Captain Cook’s ship Endeavour.
Other countries soon issued similar commands including the U.S.A.

The Laperouse Museum of Albi is an easily missed gem well worth an hour. 

The Laperouse Museum is very small but a beautiful museum placed hard beside the river Tarn and with a very active society. 
Interest in the voyage of Laperouse is growing with more of the places the voyage touched requesting exhibitions.

Albi was home for Laperouse whose very adventurous voyage ended in mystery, hence the Museum of Laperouse in the old town and his very impressive statue near the centre.
Albi is a beautiful town quietly going its own way.
For my money Albi is one of the most pleasant and fun towns I have encountered.
It is beautiful and there is always some thing interesting going on from music to motor racing, night clubs to the world class Museum of Toulouse Lautrec.
UNESCO seems to agree.
Last year Albi was given UNESCO World Heritage status. 
Happily for the region this has already had a noticeable effect boosting tourism to the little known but beautiful province of Tarn some 25%.

I have the keys to a friends house where I often help out while passing through, then eventually found my way back to Itzac in the Tarn, Midi Pyrenees.

The picture of my cottage was taken last year before the house warming but balloons apart the place has not changed much for 50 years and was in 1825 the village forge.

You can order your copy of this most striking painting, easily and securely from page:

http://www.frickers.co.uk/prints.html

http://www.frickers.co.uk/landscape/hot_rain.html being an example,

The frame alone will cost some £500.00

The painting as you can see from previous blog entries is progressing steadily.

My intention in the background is to show a busy scene, a lot of activity, a lot of life.

Unlike many marine painters, I am not shy of including people going about their daily tasks.

I think this could be partly because I am facinated by working people and partly thanks to my excellent professional training as an artist and Art Photographer.

I am some times reminded when I see  would be struggling artists (with whom I have much sympathy and always try to encourage) of John Constable’s amusing if cruel remark about self taught artists, roughly he said, ‘when I see a  self taught artist I am aware he was taught by a very ignorant person…’

Moving back to less  controversial ground, some of this work is produced wet on wet, in this case a recent example is the way the sea is painted.

There will be more work on the sea,  however the basic underlying painting is now in place showing a calm day and swell from the South West while the breeze has backed to North West as indicated by the craft shown sailing and will later be further indicated as the sea surface is completed.

At other times, particularly now detail is beginning to be added, I have to wait for paint to dry.

You can seen the beginnings of fine detail, rigging and other delicate art work appearing and maybe begin to guess how the finished art work will appear?

There are still many many hours of work before this marine painting which has also to be an historic document is completed, for example the Minerve has no gun ports yet.

There will also be some surprises yet to show, in this painting when finished…

We can though begin to see some of the crew of Minerve and the crew of Nelson’s boat and what they are about including a marine guard and some of the crew drawn up to receive Nelson, none of the figures though are as yet finished.

Each figure will be a personality, clothing, hair styles etc all have to be as correct for the period as possible.

The plan is to include much fine detail but arrange this marine painting to view well from any distance thus making it a very worthy addition to any collection of fine paintings.

I have a number of copies of portraits of Horatio Nelson and intend he will be recognisable as a figure in the stern sheets of the longboat.

The intention is to record the day Nelson transferred from HMS Captain, a 74 gun ship of the line (middle background) to HMS Minerve a frigate, French built.

Of the occasion, Nelson wrote to his wife, don’t worry, I am off on a special mission but it is not dangerous.

Little did Nelson know the adventures that lay ahead included him almost being captured.

Such was the dangerous life lead by so many men during the Revolutionary and  Napoleonic Wars…

~

What is the purpose and future for this marine painting of a bygone age?

I learnt so much about the Georgian navy back in the 1990’s when I had the unique privilege of working for HMS Victory so it seems a pity not to share, use and enjoy that experience.

This picture of Nelson started life as a sketch I drew one evening in 1998 at the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club while thinking through ideas for a scene from the voyage of the French navigator and discoverer Laperouse, at Botany bay, a painting I expect to produce this year.

Much more recently a friend and fellow painter, Chris Boddington suggested adapting the scene along the lines we now see.

It was a useful suggestion because The Trafalgar Collection, owned for the past 15 or so years by 2 gentlemen in London is now being offered for sale, prices from £10,000.00, and they asked if I might paint a  more scenes to add to the collection.

I also have a second version of the renowned “Trafalgar Dawn“, now ready to mark out, the opposite view, from the Combined Fleet…

I don’t yet know the future of this unsold painting however it could be a fine example to show at the exhibition offered me at the European Parliament, a show I have had to put off until next year mostly because of difficulties securing appropriate dates.

On the other hand, if some one makes me an offer I can’t refuse (which happened with the original “Trafalgar Dawn“)…

There have been some significant developments in this marine painting  including Gordon Frickers is able to be the first, here to show  some results of collaboration, new research into the quality of the bright yellow preferred by Nelson on his ships, more on that below…

This new marine painting is beginning to come to life with the basic structure now complete.

The ships are anchoured and moored much as they would have been following research into the original charts of the time by the artist with special thanks to the staff of H.M. Hydrographic Office Taunton for their very generous welcome and full co operation.

Still to be added, many more people, the port of Gibraltar we can safely guess,  was a busy place in Nelson’s day?

The sea still needs much work, the artist’s intention being to show a calm sea with a S W swell entering the bay, the wind having backed to a light N.E. breeze.

The harbour is yet to be populated with numerous busy small craft some under sail others under oar including some of distinctively Mediterranean types.

Plus if you used the pop up facility clicking on the picture above, I doubt if the facts escaped your notice re the lack of rigging on the ships show?

~

Following research by Peter Goodwin, Keeper and Curator of HMS Victory and author of much merit, a “recipe” was found recently in a letter from Horatio Nelson for the mix of Nelson’s bright yellow.

We may be seeing the correct colour for the first time since living memory; which means the ship Victory may have her stripes repainted.

You may be aware, following the dry docking of the then rather rotten HMS Victory and her first 20th century major overhaul in 1921/2 (partly paid for by the excellent Society of Nautical Research) HMS Victory had her white “Victorian Navy” stripes painted bright yellow because the people of the time referred to her bright yellow warlike stripes.

Fine except bright yellow in 1922 was a chrome yellow not available until about 1820 by which time you may have already deduced, Horatio Nelson had had his last day…

During the 1990’s and following a long discussion between this artist and Peter Goodwin on the origins and nature of paint, not as anorak ish as it first sounds because this was to influence a sight seen by a million plus visitors to HM Historic Dockyard Portsmouth per year,  Peter was eventually able to convince the authorities and experts that  they used the wrong yellow.

Peter is a very remarkable man who has to deal with ministries, government departments, old guard, know alls, jobworths etc.

How he does that is a story in its self!

Happily he does have some first rate colleagues who given sufficient evidence will support his some times “radical” discoveries and requests.

HMS Victory may be in for another repaint soon, can you guess why?

I’d had a problem with this yellow business for a long time.

I’d noticed a remark of Nelson’s which requested his captains immediately before Trafalgar to paint the bands on their masts black to distinguish their ships (in the smoke and confusion of battle ) from the French who guess what, had white masts…

Now why would Nelson write that if the mast of the British fleet were yellow?

I have not yet spoken again with Peter about this side issue given his latest discover re the yellow used but I have a theory for Peter…

~

The change of subject for the original sketch was suggested by Chris Boddington after he saw a Gordon Frickers original sketch in 2009.

The original sketch that inspired this marine painting was drawn one evening in 1998 in the lounge of the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club where incidentally there are two fine original examples of Gordon Frickers marine art in that lounge commissioned by and owned by the club.

The original sketch was exploring ideas for a scene during the voyage of the French explorer, navigator and discoverer, Laperouse.

In particular his visit to Botany Bay, Australia, a subject I am soon to return to having recently completed much extensive research and become a member last year of L’Association Laperouse, which is based on Laperouse home town of Albi in S W France…

There is a selection of books we can highly recommend because

A. they feature Gordon Frickers marine painting and

B. they are excellent book (not that we are biased, much), see page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/trafalgar.html

The books can be ordered via that page from Amazon.

The original of Trafalgar Dawn was sold about 15 years ago to a private collection however the owner has indicated he is now open to offers.

Offers can be made via Mr. 10% on this web site!

More affordable, Trafalgar Dawn is available as a superb quality numbered, signed, Prestige edition on printed canvas, from page
http://www.frickers.co.uk/prints.html
where it can be ordered 100%  securely using Paypal or by a direct bank to bank transfer.

The new Trafalgar Dawn is in an advanced stage of research and pre sketching following visits to research at Portsmouth and in Paris last December (as mentioned in this blog, early December).
As for

Nelson at Gibraltar, you can follow the development of this painting on this blog.

The painting has evolved from a drawing Gordon Frickers  made one evening in 1998 while in the member’s lounge of the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club.

Gordon was a very active member of the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club for many years and the club has 2 magnificent marine paintings of his in it’s collection.

One features the Royal Yacht Britannia HRH Queen Elizabeth disembarking, to visit Plymouth, the other shows a typical Spring Series race of the period and is very rich in details.

That original sketch was intended as an idea for a painting of the French navigator and discoverer Laperouse entering Botany Bay.

The Laperouse painting is an other currently under development after a long interval.

Gordon was researching for the Laperouse painting and Nelson at Gibraltar last November at H.M. Hydrographic Office, Taunton,  and another reason he was in Paris and at the Muse de Laperouse, Albi (Laperouse home town).

A friend of his, Chris Boddington former very successful lawyer and a skilled painter in his own right, saw the sketch last summer and suggested it would work well as a painting of Nelson transferring from HMS Captain to HMS Minerve at Gibraltar so guess what?

Since the attached pic was taken, the composition and colouring have advanced significantly.

There will be a new blog entry on this painting of Nelson and Gibraltar  in the next few days.

~

Also currently for re sale, given an offer they can’t refuse,  by clients of Gordon Frickers are the following Marine Paintings, several quite famous,  (by the way we should mention, prices often with paintings are the reverse of most cars so re sale prices are likely to be considerably more than the vendors paid or the current price of new paintings direct from the artist):

“H.M. Schooner “Pickle”, carrying the news of the Battle of Trafalgar”

“Nelson’s Column”

“Trafalgar Dawn”

“First Shots, Trafalgar”

“Nelson’s Pickle, first with the news”

“Ferriera” ex “Cutty Sark”, “Last Departure” (mentioned on this blog, 27.01.10)

~

Another  email was an invitation to go on a Dutch gallery web site ( for a fee).
The site seems to feature mostly Russian artists, some quite good.
It has no marine artist.
It did have an interesting link to a gallery in California, that set Gordon thinking…
He does not  have a list of galleries which might be worth approaching, should he have one?
Can you recommend any galleries?

Peter is very concerned that there are structural problems in Victory caused by poor repairs and the committees responsible are not listening to him …

Thus I was able to bring Peter some moral support and light relief with some marine news.

I’d previously emailed Peter Goodwin as discussed when I last visited HMS Victory last December (see blog entry 5 Dec http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/2009/12/05/portsmouth-hms-victory-and-pickle/.
My email had not arrived, just as well I phone today?
I had attached a draft letter of introduction worded as nearly as I can recall, to the original from Captain Mike Cheshire, the then commander of HMS Victory.
The original letter was on official ship’s stationary and would have been dated about May 1995.

The letter  was unique, an honour, more it was very useful, opening doors all over Europe greatly aiding  my research for HMS Victory.
It enabled me to access many rare documents and artifacts in turn leading to some ground breaking research.

I was greeted with enthusiasm and given unlimited co operation in places as far afield as Liverpool, Madrid, London and San Sebastian Naval Base, Brest and Cadiz, Paris and Plymouth.

Unfortunately I left the original with the marine Museum in Madrid and can’t find the last copy I had.
I’d like to show some thing with the above date on my web site as part of the Trafalgar project.

It would also be very helpful to have an up dated copy similar or same wording from Peter Goodwin to use during current ongoing research.

For example, last month I was in the Musee Marine National, Paris.
While they were polite, no one was very helpful, an opportunity missed.
Next Month I will be in Brest around the 12th 15th and possibly visit La Hermione so a new letter would be most helpful.

My addresses are:

Gordon Frickers
41a Oak Tree Park
Glenholt
Plymouth
Devon
PL6 7JZ

Gordon Frickers
Les Lilas, ITZAC
81170 CORDES, France

Alert and Lexington

We know the British cutter Alert captured the American brig, commerce raider, Lexington.

I have made a start by re reading various books here.

While I don’t have anything on Alert, I did make a little progress re Lexington.
It appears Lexington was a converted merchant ship.
As far as I can tell from the preliminary research, no plan or reliable illustration exists of her so we have a clean shot at this.

Peter offered to contact colleagues at  the National Maritime Museum Greenwich (London) as the National Maritime Museum Greenwich archives may have a plan of Lexington.
After capture Lexington was brought into the Royal Naval Dockyard, Plymouth so was very likely measured and had her lines taken as was the custom at Plymouth in those days.

You probably know, it appears she was a typical American trader of her period.
I have quite a lot of colour pictures of such ships here.
I have not as yet searched the Internet or raised this with my friends in the U.S.A. or other possible sources.

As for a painting, I am happy to produce one on “spec”, to be used in any way we think helpful, as usual I’m open to ideas.
I can start painting as soon as you wish, anytime after the end of February would be good.
Thus the sooner we can sort out our ideas the sooner I can begin sketches for us to discuss.
If you have the time I’d like to get started ASAP, before I am to involved in the coming exhibition at the European Parliament (date to be set, possibly mid May as that is European Sea Week).

Other marine news

Last week I attended a meeting of the L’association Laperouse.
There are several opportunities there which may interest you?

You are probably aware Laperouse was the French answer to James Cook?
The society has a good web site including copy in various languages.

The society is very active and in touch with museums at many places Laperouse ships visited.
I wrote up the evening on my blog, http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/, 22 January.

Possibly the most interesting news for you and I though is the society has:
Good connections in France and abroad.
The senior people appreciate they are getting old and are concerned to find younger people to “take over”.
They wish to seek links with other European societies and museums of the great and pioneering explorers and navigators.

This with the aim of a joint presentation to the European Parliament for funds.

The present Museum is in the old quarter of Albi, Laperouse home town.
The Museum is interesting and constantly being improved.
However they are quite unaware of your marvelous work on Victory and as the Museum is about the same size of one of Laperouse ships, there are possible opportunities…?

I look forward to your thoughts on the above.

Very best wishes to you and Katie,

Gordon

P.S.

We spoke of cabin interior colour schemes, in particular the use of natural wood  and white paint in Nelson’s cabins.

After, and you may have thought of this before, I remembered when working years ago on the model of George Anson’s famous Centurion (the ship which captured the greatest treasure ever taken at sea) at the NMM Greenwich I was shown how they had put an endoscope (the sort of camera surgeons use) inside some of the models and been amazed to find many had the interiors painted in the styles of the time even though once the model was complete no one was likely to ever see the details again.

Maybe some new research here would help you with the cabin interiors of Victory?
As a trained photographer, if it helps, I’d be happy to help interpret the pictures obtained.
We might well find enough new information for hours and beers of discussion and to support a definitive point for the benefit of  HMS Victory!

You may be aware of Laperouse? 

Laperouse, navigator and discoverer was literally the French answer to Captain James  Cook and the HMS Endeavour.

The second photo shows principally Henry Féral, Préfet honoraire, Maire de Puycelsi giving his obligatory speech which included a round up of the years activities and future dates.

Maybe you are aware, Comte, Captain, Laperouse, navigator and discoverer, or more formally,  Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (1741-88), with 2 ships, La Boussole and L’Astrolabe was one of the early European pioneers to enter the Pacific ocean on a voyage of science and discovery?

All Europe had been stunned by the achievements of James Cook.

The French in particular with their enthusiasm for science and discovery greatly admired James Cook.

So much so that the French king expressly forbade any French ship from interfering with the voyages of James Cook (other English ships remaining fair game!).

In turn, Cook’s men voluntarily and sportingly agreed not to attack French ships.

The Spanish and Americans followed suite, ensuring James Cook’s safe passage from their ships.

The King of France took a personal interest in the voyage of Laperouse.

Many of the documents relating to the voyage have the King’s hand writing in the margins.

~

Today interest in Laperouse is growing, worldwide.

Laperouse was born in Albi, at that time a city of some 9,000 inhabitants.

Albi is in central SW France (near my studio at Itzac) so fittingly this city has a very small museum in his honour.

The museum is curiously, just about the same size as the inside of one of his ships.

It is of course completely over shadowed by Albi’s other museum which is world class and  dedicated to the great artist Toulouse Lautrec.

However, interest in Laperouse is growing world wide including an exhibition currently on tour and recently in Paris and St Malo.

There are now museums commemorating the voyage of Laperouse on the West coast of the USA, East coast of Russia and notably in Australia at

La Perouse Museum, Botany Bay National Park Anzac Parade

The British received La Pérouse courteously, sent a pilot boat and offered him any assistance he might need.

La Pérouse sent many of his journals and letters to Europe with a British ship, others having been sent previously via Russia (Vladivostok).

Just as well as the voyage of Laperouse was doomed.

The voyage of Laperouse touched many shores.

Tragically one to many, the ships were wrecked.

Far better is to visit the museum at Albi or the very informative web site  http://www.laperouse-france.fr/

One of the many things I have come to like about this charming museum and L’association Laperouse is how active they are.

New exhibits and new discoveries appear on every visit I have made.

In the coming year, L’association Laperouse is particularly interested to forge links with other museums in Europe dedicated to the great explorers.

This with a view to presenting joint proposals to the European Parliament for funding ongoing projects and exhibitions.

Maybe you have contacts who could further this aim?

If so kindly email me ASAP, thanks.

~

As usual the version in Wikipedia is not correct.

You would do better to read the account a copy of the first published account of the settlement of Australia.

Research to date has included 3 visits to the Musee Laperouse, one to the Musee Maritime National, Paris, one to H.M. Hydrographic Office, Taunton and much reading of books and the Internet.

And the photo above, the big river on the left is the Tarn, the mountains in the back ground are
the Black mountains.
Taken while en route to collect a friend from Hospital.