Camellia Schooner

Description

A portrait of the topsail schooner CAMELLIA off Flamborough Head, painted in oil on canvas by John Fannen and within a period bird’s eye maple veneered frame of wedge form. Signed and dated J. Fannen 1883.

27.5in x 39.5in.(21.5in x 33.5in)

Camellia was built by the Tyne Ship Building Co. Ltd., Newcastle in 1878. She was 258 feet long with a 32 foot beam and her hold 21.2 feet deep. Owned by J. Robinson & Sons and registered at North Shields.
John Fannen 1857-1904. A Sunderland artist, sometime policeman, painted all types of sailing vessels but most often small sailing coasters employed in the coal trade. Roger Finch states that Fannen had a considerable output and was a ‘true pierhead painter’. His works are to be found in several museums around the country, most particularly Sunderland, Canterbury and the National Maritime Museum.