The haunting marine painting of “Talthybius by moonlight”, not unlike the ship in the painting has reached it’s new home port, delivered to London Yesterday.

And The Port of Chester? ~ more below…

The new owner wrote: “Of course you can quote, including the remarks I made of it before“. (Name by request with held)

This in reference to his previous email: “Dear Gordon,
Your painting has arrived. My friend in London who has opened it and is looking after it for the time being, he kept on saying what a good picture it its, and it will be an wonderful addition to my walls. I am very thrilled and cannot wait to see it“.
~

Of course the original Port of Chester 1863 was sold some 11 years ago so we are talking of a print order with remarque.
You can find the picture, the explanation and stories of the painting and historic port  on page

http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/chester.html,

You can order your copy paying securely on line via PayPal about, the info is half way down page:

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

For the remarque I drew a version of the earliest know picture of New Crane Wharf,  Chester.
My client thoughtfully wrote the following, also quoted with his permission: “Dear Gordon,
My Port of Chester remarque arrived safely today, thank you very much, both myself and my wife are very pleased with the print, and thank you for an excellent remarque.Thanks for your info. on framing, an art framing company in Saltney usually does a good job on our artwork.
Sincerely
J. I.”

I really appreciate and am encouraged by all the endorsements I have been fortunate enough to receive.

The painter’s lot is not the easiest and at times quite isolated, my greatful thanks to all who have made the time to express appreciation of my work and service.

Happily the above endorsements will eventually join the many others on the web site.

My work is not just about trying to make a decent living, I care about giving good service and value plus many of the paintings I have been fortunate to have the ability to produce are many are proving to be of real and enduring worth.

Also, comments like those above made direct to me as in this case, on this blog in response to entries and via Linkedin are helpful in other ways.

They encourage fellow surfers to have confidence in www.frickers.co.uk and search engines like to see interactive sites which encourages traffic and improves rating.

Thus whether you buy or simply enjoy this site if you can add some  appropriate words you are helping and have made a contribution, thank you.

Gordon Frickers, Marine Artist, Art Photographer.

Also in the news is the beautiful classic print of “The Port of Chester 1863” (visit page http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/chester.html).

Slight problem re marine print of  the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II.

The gentleman has not left his name, phone number or address  and has not responded to email…

Not to worry, he kindly paid and it will take a few more weeks to proof and prepare this great  and now historic picture.

I doubt we will sell many copies (thus it will remain very rare) however we have had other enquiries about this remarkable picture.

The scene shows the moment at the Wolf Rock lighthouse, Isles of Scilly as Virgin Atlantic Challenger II (Richard Branson and Chay Blyth’s  second attempt with his second boat) completed what was at the time the fastest powered crossing of the Atlantic.

Both these personalities are clearly recognisable in the painting.

At the invitation of Radio Cornwall I worked from the press boat.

As we waited the anticipated arrival, the weather deteriorated, the sea rose and drizzle set in.

Several of the fleet street photographer’s suffered camera malfunctions due to the damp.

I was fortunate to take the only colour pictures and made a sketch while the memorey was fresh as our boat rolled and pitched her way back to St Mary’s.

Later, at the request of the National Maritime Museum Greenwich, I gave them a set of the photos.

Meanwhile, sitting at the back of the subsequent press conference I turned the sketch into a water colour and was lucky to have all the crew sign the back of the art work before they dispersed.

You can if you wish see this unique marine watercolour on page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/virgin_atlantic_2.html

More highly finished Marine Paintings can be seen on most of the other marine pages of www.frickers.co.uk.

Some of the marine prints are signed by famous sailors, notably Sir Robin Knox-Jonhston on the famous picture  “Roaring Forties”

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

and Tracy Edwards, “Ice Maiden“, a beautiful quality print, last few still available see page

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

but none are signed by an entire crew except this Virgin Atlantic Challenger II watercolour.

In the year 1933, Geoffrey Hales commissioned and donated a trophy.

To Richard Branson’s disappointment, this trophy was denied to Richard Branson and his Virgin Atlantic Challenge II team on the grounds it was intended for commercial ships thus it remained with the mighty  SS United States.

Branson eventually bought the original painting after asking me to bring it to London for him to see.

My asking price was a modest £500.00

Skilled negotiator that he is he argued the price down to within £10.00 of me walking out.

Fortunately he is my only client who has negotiated like that.

Actually I consider I have been very fortunate with my clients and in the process have had the privilege of meeting some very remarkable people some of who have become friends.

It helped in those early days of my career to have sold to such a high profile person but I have never heard from him since, not even a thank you for a unique and splendid painting of an achievement he, his family and his team  can be proud of.

~

Chester:

Moving on to happier subjects, a much appreciated painting, The Port of Chester 1863 refuses to be forgotten.

A rather younger Gordon Frickers is shown here with John Rundle then Mayor of Chester and the painting which Chester considered sufficiently important to give a civic reception which 400 guests attended and at which we sold 90 framed prints.

You can discover this remarkable story and art work on page

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

and via the attached further reading, it is quite a story…

While the Duke of Westminster declined a chance to buy the original it did eventually go to a good home for a healthy 4 figure price and is appreciated.

The Port of Chester 1863 has been my best selling print and copies still sell.

Today The Port of Chester 1863 has been on my agenda twice.

I have a very appreciative email from a client who has just received his remarqued copy purchased from this site.

Also, a previous client who runs a PR agency phoned to ask if I was interested in painting a commercial ship.

I’d be delighted to work on the proposed subject, commercial shipping is a speciality of mine, the more modern the better although followers of this blog will recall the older subject, the recent painting of the Blue Funnel Steamer Talthybius, first blogged on 03/02/10 and sold within a month.

I have one Blue Funnel steamer painting left, Agapenor, and am planning 2 more for later this year.

This proposed new commission, if it materialises will be wonderful and an appropriate retirement gift to a company director; knocks spots off a gold watch!

~

Meanwhile I am putting in as many hours as I can on a series of new paintings.

I have the rare pleasure of the studio to myself, well almost, I have 2 cats to catsit, more very soon on the new paintings including pop up pics of the progress.

The light has been excellent for painting for the past few days here in the Tarn.

Today we finally lost the cold weather, the day felt like an English summer, fresh and warm.

This evening I went shopping in ancient Cordes, a lovely drive just before dusk.

I am told Cordes which receives 1 million visitors a year ( maybe not exactly 1 million), is a good place for an artist to register as living in France.

The town has a long association with artists and they vote.

France is of course renowned for it’s often frustrating bureaucracy;

Many town halls have the revolutionary slogan Libertie, Egallitie, Fraternitie over their entrance, to which people sometimes mutter as they enter, et Bureaucracie…

There is some good news though.

Much of France’s red tape is to go online thus reducing the queues and frustration at the marie.

Planning permissions, health forms, customs and tax,  and driving documents will be included while sites will be reduced from some 400 to 10 for individuals and 10 for businesses.

France intends to reduce the number of passwords needed, redesign public sites to be instantly recognisable (so what are they now , don’t ask!), allow online payments, have guaranteed response times for emails, and allow users to evaluate their experience.

Now that will be a French revolution!

If it is all to much try an Armagnac.

I discovered Armagnac by accident while working on a series I call Famous Wine Villages of France, now in the archive section of www.frickers.co.uk, some of which you can review from page http://www.frickers.co.uk/archive/wine.html

That series was painted partly in conjunction with selected French wine producers of Bordeaux.

Should I follow that work up and maybe include Armagnac and Cognac?

During the bleakest part of my life I found a tot of Armagnac worked wonders on the nerves before bed time or after a bad dream.

As far back as 1310 A.D. no less an authority than The Vatican extolled the virtues of Armagnac for conserving one’s health.

Dufor wrote “This water, if taken medically and soberly is said to have 40 virtues.
It enlivens the spirit, if taken in moderation, recalls the past to memory, renders men joyous, preserves youth and delays senility“.

He did also add a warning, that Armagnac “loosens the tongue and emboldens the wit“.

This smooth and illustrious liqueur is France’s oldest spirit (drink).

Armagnac has been in the news here partly because it is loosing market share which is a loss for us all.

The plan is to bring it to the attention of the 35 to 50 age group as an all round drink.

I’d drink to that, in my significant but limited experience Armagnac is one of the most enjoyable and versatile liqueurs going down well solo or with a wide range of foods.

I also found taken in moderation it stopped cold bugs dead when days of paracetamol left me still suffering and Armagnac tastes on my palette far better than anything the pharmacists have ever given me!

The taste of this less known fire water is similar to Cognac or other good French brandy but smoother, more kindly although none the less strong.

While you won’t find an Armagnac that is 700 years old, not even here in the heartland of Midi Pyrenees and Gascony,  Armagnac is seriously older than Cognac which developed in the 16th century.

Now it is late here and you have talked me into having a tot as I retire.

The new marine painting “Racing Yachts” featuring Swan Nautor type yachts is almost complete.

Based on my experiences producing the Yachting World Prize for previous Swan European Regattas the new painting will be offered for a modest £1,000.00

The Gordon Frickers Yachting World prize caused quite a stire and was much admired by the competitors.

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

One recipient was kind enough to say (and allow me to quote him) “I have won a few prizes in my racing career but I can assure you this will be one I treasure most“, M.J. Leadbetter.

More about Mike Leadbetter’s marine painting on page ~ http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/k_6888.html

Anyone know the name of Mike Ledbetter’s yacht, I have mislaid my record of her?

(UK) 01865 522435 (International: +44 1865 522435)

I made good progress today on the Gibraltar and the small Cattewater marine paintings, both are historical port scenes.

The Gibraltar painting now has most of Minerve’s crew painted Horatio Nelson is now recognisable (just!) and the beginnings of the back ground details.

The Cattewater, Plymouth (small version) today had the final paint applied to the sky and further work completed on the sea hills and buildings.

Further work was also carried out on the hull of the large sailing ship lying off Phoenix Wharf, the ship will become the famous clipper “Samuel Plimsoll“  which in turn was named for and launched by the very remarkable Mr. Samuel Plimsoll.

Both these new marine paintings, shown in earlier blogs this year will re appear ion this blog soon in almost finished mode.

It will be interesting to see if the follow Talthybius and sell in less than a month, see blog entries 07.02.10 and 03.03.10 ~ anyone taking bets?

On the subject of which here is in the best Blue Peter tradition, one I made earlier, a pic of a Swan painting I finished last year and which I intend to sell ~

Make me an offer I can’t refuse and it is yours?

You can pay for any unsold picture on the web site securely online using PayPal on page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/blog/making-a-payment/

enjoy!

It has been a bit extreme for me work wise as well with less time for painting and learning French than I’d like.

The weather week opened with mild sunny days and has finished with snow and – 8 C  nights, happily my work has produced some great results.

My week has seen a tough article (fun though) to write, prints of The Port of Chester to remarque and post to clients ( you can find the info and order securely online from page

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

The new painting of the blue funnel steamer, “Talthybius ” painted as an exhibition piece for me to not exactly keep but well, hand on to, was sold, quite a bit of work involved there and given a day of ideal light I was able to re photograph some large paintings, see the entry for 6th of March.

I had to start the week writing a second draft of an article on Super yachts 2010 on the cote d’azur, the South of France.

I have writen for journals  before  of course but it is not my training so I find this extremely draining…

2000 words on such a great subject, wot so few?

I strayed some what over the 2000 limit but wrote in a format which will make life easy for the editior as each parragraph has a stand alone quality.

~

The 2010 cote d’azur super yacht “season” starts at Antibes in April.

Yachting is non stop on the cote d’azur for craft of all types however here is a taste of the life of Les grande célébrations du yachting – the great yacht events of 2010.

The cote d’azur is one of the “natural” habitats of the super yacht breed.

Your correspondant visited to the cote d’azur last year which included 11 days based at Antibes and the Monaco Yacht Show.

To write the new piece (for Sea Breezes) I was able to use material and stories I’d collected last year as the base but the fun bit was to contact some of the brilliant people I met last year and ask “Hey wotsnew?”

Very charmingly, several one way and another hoped I’d be back on the cote d’azur again this year and visit them. One, Johan  Pizzardini of the Monaco Yacht Show kindly suggested a possible subject.

The  Monaco Oceanographic museum will celebrate their 100 year in 2010; would that be an opportunity for Gordon Frickers to paint a new subject?

Nice idea great subject, who to get in touch with???

Another, correspondent showed interest in having a painting of her yacht transport ships.

This would be a wonderful subject for me, state of the art working ships carrying leisure boats.

I’ll write a piece for this blog on the cote d’azur yacht shows, in a day or to.

Given people asking to see me and the chance of some wonderful subjects for marine painting, I am considering more seriously, attending the first big event of the season, The Antibes Yacht Show

It is also sold.

Drat!

Now I only have one “Blue Flue” marine art left… http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/agapenor_bombay.html

The Blue Funnel steamer Talthybius is not even on the web site yet, sold in less than a month so I’ll show you am few details below.

The Blue Funnel ship Talthybius was  painted on speculation as a possible exhibition piece for the proposed one man show at the European Parliament.

Also because I wanted to look again at the possibilities offered by moonlight:

because I am also working on another moonlight scene, this one being in the form of two paintings of the same subject, one large one small, Plymouth Cattewater by moonlight.

The story of this major new painting is emerging elsewhere on this blog…

An offer was made, an offer which I could not refuse by a delightful gentleman who’s emails had me laughing several times,

Now I only have one Blue Flue marine painting and may have to paint another for the show.

Any Ideas for a subject?
I have two ideas, how about you, a favourite ship worth recording in a marine painting?

Meanwhile I only have Agapenor at Bombay left in my reserve collection.

I guess I had better add another Blue Funnel ship to the growing list of paintings I should get on with.

Next though will be a new version of Trafalgar Dawn, the French perspective and a new painting of the voayage of the French discoverer Laperouse plus I also need examples of new cruise and cargo ships but which to choose?

There was a time when to take the “ferry ‘cross the Mersey” meant weaving between Blue Funnel ships.

A detail of this new marine painting is shown here, the complete picture and ships history is below.

The Blue Funnel Line fleet grew from the enthusiasm of a railway engineer.
Alfred Holt, in the 1852 who became part owner of the sailing ship “Dumbarton Youth”, fitted with 2 – 44 HP engines.
Included in the ship where a large number of bibles and a quantity of blue paint.

We don’t know what happened to the bibles.

Alfred Holt’s business was successful, trading initially to the Mediterranean and West Indies.

Joined by his brother Phillip Holt in 1865 they were soon  trading as The Ocean Steam Ship Company.

Considering this was the greatest adventure of their lives and the Odyssey the finest tale ever written they began to give their ships distinctively Homeric names and of course the famous blue flues.

~

Gordon Frickers started this painting inspired and encouraged by his good friend and supporter Harry Milsom, former editor of Sea Breezes, some 15 years ago then abandoned it, unfinished.
In 2009 having been invited to exhibit his work at the European Parliament, Brussels, while sorting out paintings at his studio in SW France at Itzac in the Midi Pyrenees, Gordon Frickers discovered several unfinished works.
Re inspired by the fabulous moon rises and night skies often seen over this part of France this painting returned to his easel.

Actual size of this painting, 405 x 605 mm, 24″ x 16″, price £750.00

~

From 1865, The business of The Ocean Steam Ship Company prospered, to grow eventually to include
Nederlandssche Stoomvaart Maatschappij “Oceaan”,
the China Mutual Steam Navigation Company,
Thomas Royden and sons (New York),
the Knight Line,
Cowie and Company, and in particular
the Glen Line (All ships names pre fixed with “Glen”) which in turn added the Shire Line forming a company of some 90 merchant ships.

Not all these ships had the renowned blue flue.
The Glen Line and Nederlandssche Stoomvaart Maatschappij ~ NSM “Oceaan” ships sported black topped red funnels however their livery was otherwise identical.

The phrase “Blue flue” was though, in such popular usage the some 100 years after the founding of The Ocean Steam Ship Company, Blue Funnel Line Ltd became a registered company name.

This hard working company enjoyed an excellent reputation for reliable sound ships, well officered, no “coffin ships” there…
Together they made a real contribution to the prosperity of the world we have inherited and to Britain in particular.
There was a price to pay, the stout ships and their brave crews endured much hard work, long voyages and storms in safety but proved especially vulnerable during the 2 world wars.

The artist was fortunate to meet some of the former officers and visit the offices of The Ocean Steam Ship Company in Liverpool before the company finally ceased to manage ships.

~
The ship featured in this painting is the “TALTHYBIUS”.

Named for Talthybius, (as is one of the asteroids of the planet Jupiter) who had an important role early in the tale of Homer’s The Iliad, the Greek version of the Trojan War.

If you are not familiar with the Iliad, here is a brief intro to the opening scenes.
You may soon see why the tale has endured 2,500 years…

Talthybius appears as a faithful if reluctant squire and diplomat for King Agamemnon, an ambassador.
The Iliad opens with King Agamemnon in dispute with Apollo over a mistress.

The drama increases when King Agamemnon decides in frustration to steal Achilles captive girl Briseis as a substitute.
A good idea?

Achilles is not amused in fact he is seriously angry with this injustice.
Achilles went to sulk in his tent and thus deprived the Greeks of their foremost champion during the Trojan War.

Solution, a rather unenthusiastic Talthybius with Eurybates were sent to fetch Briseis, their task to bring some order into a disordered world.

Happily for Talthybius and Eurybates, Achilles receives them gracefully and gave up Briseis.
Did anyone ask Briseis what she wanted?

Brisēis was a Trojan widow who was abducted during the Trojan War by Achilles after the death of her three brothers and husband, King Mynes of Lyrnessus.

Talthybius is hardly mentioned again in the Iliad, he does though appear in the notable play, “The Trojan Women” by Euripides.

Talthybius is said to have died at Aegium in Achaia where his descendants became heralds and allegedly still live.

~

This ship “Talthybius”

Built 1912 by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Greenock, 10,224 gross registered tonnage.

An uneventful career until 1941 when at Liverpool she was hit twice by bombs on May 4th and 8th.
1942 ~ Talthybius was again struck by bombs.
This time at Singapore, the perpetrators being the Japanese.
Holed and on fire, her Chinese crew abandoned her.
Her British officers extinguished the fires and moved her to a dry dock where they attempted to plug her holes.
The order to abandon Talthybius was reluctantly obeyed on February 12, 2 days after it was given.
The master and officers escaped the advancing Japanese who seized Talthybius on the 16th and sent her to sea as the Taruyasu Maru.
1945 ~ On the 30th of June Taruyasu Maru ex Talthybius struck an American mine at Toyama bay North of Honshu.
Her crew managed to beach her at Maizuru Harbour where she remained until after the war.
She was raised and repaired, putting back to sea as Empire Evenlode managed by the (British) Ministry of War Transport.
1948 ~ Hong Kong, Dec 1, placed with Alfred Holt & Co who sent a master and officers (by air) and hired a Chinese crew.
She is said to have had her funnel painted “the best shade of blue available”.
At Seletar Naval Base she loaded with scrap iron and steel, war debris for a voyage to England.
With her Suez Certificate lost and no chance of another she headed for Durban and the Cape of Good Hope.
She had to put in to Mombassa for new boiler tubes and stopped again at Cape Town for more of the same.
1949 ~ Talthybius finally made Swansea on May the 8th having spent some of the voyage moving so slowly she displayed 2 black balls (indicating, technically she was not under way).
After the discharge of her cargo of scrap she herself became scrap, and history.

~

Special thanks and sources:
1.    Sea Breezes editor Harry Milsom
2.    The Legend behind the Name by K S Johnston, N Barber and TJ Bond ~ no ISBN
3.    Blue Funnels In The Mersey in the 1920’s, compiled by C H Milsom, a Sea breezes Publication, ISBN 0-951-3202-0-3
4.    Visit to the offices and archives of The Ocean Steam Ship Company, Liverpool.