a good early pierhead painting of the brig " jannet " of london entering the mediterranean harbour of marseille under the command of captain chalmers signed and dated honore pellegrini 1843.
gouache and watercolour on card. still housed in its original frame displayed in a glazed wooden painted box frame.
painting size approx 570mm wide x 440mm high.
overall size 780mm wide x 625mm 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 ".
honore pellegrini ( 1793 - 1869 ) was a pierhead painter who painted in marseille.he worked in gouache and watercolour and had a pleasing naturalistic style. the topography of marseilles harbour usually forms the background of his paintings. it is probable that he was originally from italy and settled in france.
the brig " jannet " 255 tonnes was built in yarmouth in 1833. the ship was sheathed in copper, had a single deck with beams and was timber built with iron knees. at the time of this painting " jannet" was owned by john drinkald whose house flag can be seen flying from the mast head, he was an ex lighterman who owned a wharf in one of the london docks. the painting shows the ship sailing into marseille harbour on a voyage to or from mauritius
