A fine, early portrait of a young British naval architect.
Long established as a popular art form, portraits reside in major estates and institutional collections the world over. Whether the chosen subject is a family commemorative or business professional, quality works lend a regal bearing to each subject. Our gentleman architect holds a scholarly air while pausing for our unknown painter Inchess brush. His blue eyes focus away, while his lean torso and tightly cut jacket create vertical lines which catch a viewer Inchess first glance. The stiff, upturned collar and full buttoned undershirt help date this work to the pinnacle of maritime shipbuilding, the mid-1800 Inchess.
The architect holds a common tool of his trade, brass dividers, which is used for scale measurement of precision. He works upon a thick scroll of vellum, upon which the preliminary plans of what appears to be a sailing merchant hull has been prepared. The field of expert naval architects was rather select and it is likely this as yet unidentified portrait is of an accomplished professional.
Working in concert with select shipyards and builders, often not just in design but throughout construction, architectural design provided the great innovations to world travel by ship. Constant research and actual results led to the gradual evolution of American and British ship design. Here, at a moment preserved for posterity, the naval architect pauses from his steady work, possibly in reflection on how to make his ships go farther and faster.
Housed in a period frame.
