William G. Yorke

Bark ST. GEORGE off South Stack

Dated 1872

This attractive portrait features the five-masted schooner ELINOR H. at full sail in an active sea. The ship has crisp lines and a sharp sense of detail, likely because it was painte...

This luminous work depicts the American merchant brigantine E. MILLER. The sun sits low behind the ship, illuminating the sky with colors of yellow and deep rose tones. The sun has just touched the sea at the ship's bow and around her stern, creating a halo of light in the small waves. The E. Miller is in full sail with sailors active on her deck, with her brightly colored name pennant snapping in the wind alongside the American flag and company flag. Though unsigned, this is clearly the work of artist Elisha Tyler Baker. Baker only signed about a third of his paintings, so this is not unusual for the artist. The rendering of the vessel to his touch in the sea and sky all give very clear clues that the work is his. Though little information remains about her voyages we know the ship E. MILLER was built in Virginia by the Surry Company in 1856 and had a weight of 132 tons. Sailing out of Richmond she was also known to frequent the port of Baltimore. From Richmond she would have carried out agricultural goods, lumber, and iron, while importing manufactured goods and guano to fertilize Virginia's tobacco fields. Given that she was built before the Civil War and was ported in Richmond throughout the war, it's likely the E. MILLER was involved in moving goods to supply Confederate forces. Sight Size: 23 3/4 x 32 Inches Vallejo Gallery features the finest in marine and maritime antiques...

With a great view of the city of Naples off her bow and Mount Vesuvius off her stern there's no doubt where this Baltimore Clipper Brig is located. This very well executed portrait has great detail of the port and ship with great coloration throughout and great reflections of the ship on the water. The ship is shown in full sail with flags flying. The ship was owned and Captained by Griffith Jones, a Welshman born 1831. Port Madoc refers to the Welsh City of Porthmadog- it was spelled Portmadoc before 1974. Her sloped bow and stern along with her size are typical of a Baltimore Clipper but her masts are not as raked as often seen in ships of this design and she is square rigged, though there are historical paintings and drawings of other Baltimore Clippers built in this way. Most of what we know about the Brig EPHRATAH is due to the famous wreck of her sister ship FROLIC, though FROLIC was built much earlier. FROLIC is considered the most important wreck on the West Coast of the United States. Dr. Tom Layton of Stanford University connected the two ships in his research on FROLIC.  EPHRATAH was slightly larger than FROLIC at 230 tons, 152’ with a breadth of 22’. She was built in 1873 for Griffith Jones & Co. who would also sail as her master. Jones was Welsh by birth, born in 1831 in Llannor.  FROLIC was built in Baltimore's Gardner Brothers shipyard for the Opium Trade. When steamers came along in the late 1850's it was perfect timing for FROLIC to switch to the busy California trade, fueled by the new California Gold Rush. FROLIC was carrying a rich cargo when she was shipwrecked off Point Cabrillo, California in 1850. When it was discovered in the 1980's the wreck...

In this atmospheric Maine harbor view, the grey tone of the fog enveloping the sea and sky lend an air of realism to a striking composition. Granite and green are the colors of the Maine Coast...

Grand Maritime Scene late 20th century oil on canvas, unframed Canvas : 36 x 46 inches Provenance: private collection, UK Condition: overall sound and good condition For more any mo...

This charming late-19th-century oil painting by French artist Édouard Adam (1847-1929) depicts the Polestar, an iron barque, in full sail. Adam was a notable ‘pierhead painter’ of ma...

William Ball Spencer, Seascape, Oil on Canvas, Sailboat Painting, British, 19th C. An oil on canvas by William Ball Spencer 1854–1923, a renowned British marine artist. Signed lower left, ' W.B. Spencer.' This work depicting clipper ship "Mennock." W.B. Spencer is the son of Richard Ball Spencer (1812-1897), also a well-renowned marine artist. Old minor tears having old repairs done remarkably well. Not noticeable at all from the front view. Oil on Canvas, British/American, late 19th/early 20th century William Ball Spencer was born on 22 June 1854 in Stepney and was baptised at St Thomas’s Church on 30 July of the same year. On 12 October 1873, he married Fanny Wardill at Trinity Church, Stepney. She was 20 years old and the daughter of Jonathan Wardill, a civil engineer. According to the 1881 census, William, then aged 27, was living at 8 High Street, Poplar, listed as a marine artist. Residing with him were his wife Fanny (also 27, born in Stepney), their four sons—aged between seven years and five months—and their 16-year-old servant, Charles C. Seward, born in Sheerness. Seward is recorded as a “Shop boy to Artist,” suggesting that William not only produced artwork but also operated a commercial studio or shop, likely selling original paintings, prints, and related items. Following in the footsteps of his father, Richard Ball Spencer (1812–1897), also a painter, William specialized primarily in broadside ship portraits rendered in a similar stylistic manner. He occasionally painted other maritime scenes and was known to create copies of earlier naval battle paintings...

Attributed to Hin Qua (Chinese, 19th Century) Signed in pencil to the verso Marine Arts Company attribution label to verso Stamp referring to restoration treatment by Gustav D. Kli...