“Stop and admire the raw power of this 1871 painting of the steamship 'Burgos'. It's a vivid snapshot of an era when steam revolutionized sea travel, capturing the might of both man-made vessels and the unforgiving ocean.”
The steamship 'Burgos' cuts a powerful silhouette against a dramatic sky in this 1871 painting. Waves crash around its bow, suggesting the immense power of both the vessel and the sea. The artist captures the ship in motion, with smoke billowing from its funnel and a smaller sailing vessel nearby, providing a sense of scale and the bustling activity of maritime life. This work celebrates the age of steam, a revolutionary period in shipping that transformed trade and travel. The 'Burgos' itself, a significant vessel of its time, becomes a symbol of human ingenuity and mastery over the elements. The painting vividly conveys the energy and importance of these vessels to Hull, a major port city.
- Artist
- James H. Wheldon
- Date
- 1871
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Hull Maritime Museum
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The dark hull of the steamship against the lighter, stormy sky.
The small sailing vessel in the background, dwarfed by the 'Burgos'.
Smoke pouring from the ship's funnel, indicating its speed and power.
The white caps of the waves crashing against the ship's bow.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through SS 'Burgos' — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
James H. Wheldon
1830–1895 · United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandJames H. Wheldon, a British painter active in the late 19th century, is known for his etching of 'Saint James the Greater'.
Further Works by Wheldon
'Diana' and 'Chase' in the Arctic
1857 · Hull Maritime Museum
Dutch Buss and Man of War
1870 · Hull Maritime Museum
A Barque Struck by Lightning off Eddystone Lighthouse, Cornwall
Hull Maritime Museum
Hull Whaler 'Abram'
Hull Maritime Museum
Hull Whaler 'Harmony' (after William John Huggins)
Hull Maritime Museum
The 'Diana' in an Ice Dock
Hull Maritime Museum
Whaler 'Diana'
Hull Maritime Museum
Ships navigating a busy channel
More works to explore
Beyond Wheldon: works from the same years.
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Cart with Black Ox
Vincent van Gogh · 1884 · Portland Art Museum
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Barks Fleeing Before the Storm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1870 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884
Okada Saburosuke · 1884 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Apples
Gustave Courbet · 1871 · National Museum of Western Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Bearded Man
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1871 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Crystal Palace
Camille Pissarro · 1871 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Rehearsal Onstage
Edgar Degas · 1871 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Gustave Boyer (b. 1840) in a Straw Hat
Paul Cézanne · 1870 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Impression, Sunrise
Claude Monet · 1872 · Musée Marmottan Monet
Same era · 1850s–1880s
In the Adirondacks
William Hart · 1870 · Q847508
