This late 19th-century French oil painting depicts the barque Limbe in choppy waters, with the silhouettes of two further ships beyond. It was probably produced at Le Havre, France, and it’s stylistically reminiscent of works by Marie-Edouard Adam (1847-1929).
Built at Sunderland, England, in July 1864, the 325-ton Limbe was a three-masted barque that traversed the North Atlantic. Seen here in around 1875, it’s under the command of Captain Deshayes and probably sailing between Le Havre and Cape Haytien in the Dominican Republic. Cape Haytien was predominantly known for its sugar but also for coffee and cacao production. Deshayes was at the helm between c. 1875 and c. 1883, when the Limbe undertook voyages to Flushing, Antwerp, Rouen and Falmouth.
It’s likely that the painting was commissioned by the captain himself, and it’s inscribed with his name. ‘Pierhead paintings’ were popular at this time, with each port hosting a selection of local artists. As referred to above, the main contributor at Le Havre was Marie-Edouard Adam (1847-1929), and our artist probably worked in his circle.
Inscribed with ‘Limbe’ and ‘Deshayes’ in the lower left. Held in a simple wooden frame, which could be original.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 31½” x 24½” / 80cm x 62cm
Year of creation: c. 1875
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed in the lower left.
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Canvas relined. Areas of settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
Our reference: BRV2090
