her majesty's falmouth packet ship " express. "
a good early rare pierhead painting of the falmouth packet ship " express " shown leaving falmouth harbour with the st. Anthony lighthouse on the vessels port side.( the lighthouse built in 1835 to guide vessels clear of the manacles reef.)
painted between 1833 and 1856. the painting is in good original condition with signs of historic restoration.
artist unknown.
oil on card. still housed in its original antique maple frame.
painting size approx 385mm wide x 325mm high.
overall size 475mm wide x 420mm high
ever since there have been ships there have been ship paintings. many were commissioned with pride by builders, owners or crew. in the middle of the 18th century to meet increasing demand, ship portraitists known as pierhead artists emerged. pierhead artist or painter is the term usually given to a self taught artist who specialised in painting ship portraits for the men and women who sailed them, captain and crew. the artist would seek a commission from a ship that would visit the artists home port, and would often have to finish the painting before the vessel departed. the artist would have to comply with the expectations of his clientele, so pierhead ship portraits are almost universally painted from a broadside view with all sails set. the portraits are exact and tehnically accurate in every detail, every reef point on the sails, every ratline, each block and tackle is placed in a manner that the customer would expect to see in a representation of his ship of which he was justly proud, a painting that could be displayed above the fireplace in a position of honour. the artist would only use a little poetic freedom when it came to the flags and pennants which are nearly always flying perfectly in a direction contrary to the wind.
today pierhead paintings are being sought out and collected for their decorative value as the folk art of an industrial seafaring society. they are also equally important as a historical record, very often the painting is unique in being the only pictorial record of a ship. as is likely with this portrait of the brig " jannet ".
her majesty's packet ship " express " 362 tonnes was built in deptford and launched on the 8th of October 1833. express was first commanded by lieutenant wentworth parsons Croke of falmouth between 31 January 1836 to 1840. from 4th January 1840 to June 1846, express was commanded by lieutenant edward herrick also of falmouth. lieutenant Thomas James of falmouth was in command of express from 26 June 1846 to 13 June 1848 when command of express was handed over to lieutenant William lory of falmouth. between 3 July 1851 and 14 may 1853 express was commanded by commander William Frederick fead who sailed to north america and the west indies until his death in Bahia in 1853. 14 may 1853 commander henry boys captained the express sailing to the south east coast of America until 20 September 1856 when express was paid off in Plymouth.
for falmouth boom time came in 1688, when it was appointed as the Royal Mail packet station.
This was a key strategic role, carrying mail and messages to and from the far flung reaches of the expanding British Empire. The ships were usually lightly-armed and relied on speed for their security, with the captains able to also carry bullion, private goods and passengers.
For over 150 years, between 1688 and 1850, Falmouth Packet ships filled the harbour, landing at Greenbank or Custom House Quay. The Packet Service made Falmouth the information hub of the Empire, second only to London for knowing the news of the day.
The end of the Packet era came in 1850, a result of the steam age. The newly built steamships were faster and more reliable than the old sailing packets and could thus reach London whatever the weather or circumstance.
