“Chebec geankerd. Spaansche kustvaarder in de Middellandse Zee.” [Xebec at anchor. Spanish coaster in the Mediterranean.] Watercolour with pen and washed ink by Joseph Sipkes. Signed and dated in the lower left “J. Sipkes, 1832”. Size. approx. 12,2 x 17,7 cm.
A xebec was a Mediterranean sailing ship that was used mostly for trading. Xebecs had a long overhanging bowsprit and aft-set mizzen mast. Nineteenth century xebecs had three masts and featured a distinctive hull with pronounced overhanging bow and stern. They rarely displaced more than 200 tons, making them slightly smaller and with slightly fewer guns than frigates of the period. Xebecs were generally faster than contemporary ship types until the introduction of steamships.
Little is known about the marine painter Joseph Sipkes (1787-1852) except that he worked in Amsterdam at the beginning of the 19th century. In addition to a number oil paintings, he made beautiful ship portraits in watercolour.
Price: Euro 525,-
