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PAINTING
PAINTING

PAINTING

Dimensions18.5 x 25.7 cm
Object numberHF.86.82.1
DescriptionFramed watercolour painting of the Louisa Bristol, a barque depicted in full sail on blue sea. Several figures are visible on the deck. Two flags fly from the masts - a Red Ensign at the stern and a central pennant with a "Y" referencing the Yeo shipbuilders. The sails are the ship are grey and white. The hull is painted black and grey. A small boat is visible on the right portion of horizon line. A pale blue sky with faint clouds fill the background. Several birds are depicted in the watercolour - a small black and white bird floating in the water of the foreground and three birds visible on the left in the horizon.

Title of watercolour: "Louisa Bristol"
Narrative

This watercolour of the Louisa Bristol, was painted in 1867 by Edgar Wessen. Built in 1851, the 780-ton barque was constructed for William, the eldest son of Island shipbuilder, James Yeo. William returned to Appledore, England in 1843 and operated as his father's principle agent. The Louisa Bristol was most likely used to import Canadian timber to Bideford and Bristol.

On June 1873, Louisa Bristol was sold to Welsh shipowners, John Rowlands and John Thomas. The barque continued to transport lumber and other goods between Bristol and other ports. The Louisa Bristol appears to have been in use until 1902, when the ship disappears from Lloyds ship register with a vague entry of "register closed, 1902". Remains of a ship believed to be the Louisa Bristol were discovered in the River Taff in Wales. It is believed that the barque was deliberately beached to operate like property divider between the Bute and Plymouth estates.

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