Rotterdam harbour – Edward Duncan after William John Huggins, 1842

ROTTERDAM HARBOUR IN THE 19TH CENTURY “Ships of the General Steam Navigation Company, off Rotterdam. The Giraffe of 500 Tons…

ROTTERDAM HARBOUR IN THE 19TH CENTURY

“Ships of the General Steam Navigation Company, off Rotterdam. The Giraffe of 500 Tons arriving, and The Ocean of 600 Tons leaving, with Her Majesty’s Mails“. Etching with aquatint made in 1842 by  Edward Duncan after the design of marine painter William John Huggins. With original hand colouring. Size: approx. 35,5 x 60 cm.

Starboard stern view of the 500-ton paddle steamer The Giraffe entering Rotterdam under steam. The British ensigns are flying on the stern gaff and the fore mast; the General Steam Navigation Company flag is flying on the stern mast. People are depicted on the deck. Crossing the bows of the Giraffe, is the Ocean paddle steamer leaving port under steam. She also flies the ensign and GSNC company flags. A small rowing vessel, with two men and two women is shown in the bottom right foreground. A cityscape of Rotterdam shoreline can be seen in the background complete with churches, moored shipping and a windmill.

Both paddle steamers were launched in 1836 and used as mail steamers by the British General Steam Navigation Company (GSNC). The Giraffe later served during the American Civil War.

The GSNC, incorporated in 1824, was London’s foremost short sea shipping line for almost 150 years, and the oldest shipping company in the world to begin business with steamships. The GSNC experimented with services to Lisbon, Portugal and to Gibraltar, and even to Africa and the Americas, but specialised in links with ports in Britain (including Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth) and northwest Europe.

Prijs: 1.250,- (incl. frame)