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For those on peril on the sea

Wot, no rigging on Racehorse?

As we, HMS Racehorse, author Peter Goodwin and I  get neared completing, changes become progressively more refined, smaller and more subtle, harder to notice, yet people have very powerful intuition so sense what is not right.

Racehorse progress, 30.10.17
Racehorse progress, 30.10.17

There remains much to be done, completion or at least the delicate 97 % stage does now look in sight. You can follow this rare new yarn via “HMS Racehorse“.

The painting is in part  intended to draw attention to my remarkable “Nelson and Trafalgar Collection” which I would like to see in a new home.

I find myself mildly surprise and pleased that these Nelson and Trafalgar paintings continue to attract attention and have been described in London during “The Trafalgar Soiree” at the Army & Navy Club, St James, Pall Mall, by the M D of Rochay Elite as “an excellent investment“.
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In the painting above, our ship now has a crew.

How many can you spot on deck?

I am aware the crew are ‘unfinished’, most of the individuals can me made more convincing and the colours of their clothing improved.

I have though placed the crew in positions and stances appropriate to the moment described in the ship’s log book on that stormy afternoon, 17 th September 1777.

For clothing I’ve allowed some variation in head gear, otherwise pretty much standard baggy oilskins head to feet in sea boots.

Racehorse progress, detail 30.10.17
Racehorse progress, detail 30.10.17

I was wondering if there might be some unlucky bod aloft as a look out… I’ll discuss that soon with Peter Goodwin.

Other details are still absent, notably the belfry and anchors and as yet very little of the rigging is in place.

Nor am I yet finished with sea, sky, or the distant brig, all will be further refined.

As for the rigging, my primary source will be Masts and Rigging of English Ships of War 1625 – 1850 by James Lees, however even that splendid volume does not answer all my questions to I’ll have to rope in other sources…

The painting is intended to be one of many reproduced in Peter’s next book about the Royal Navy’s first voyage to the Arctic Ocean, for which careful preparation was made.

Contact Us

T: + 44 (0)1865 52 2435  Mobile 00 33 (0) 6 10 66 19 26

or Skype ‘gordonfrickers’

Email: artistfrickers at gmail.com

Acquire, simply, securely; to place a deposit or payment on our Payment page  to make this or a similar painting, yours…