01
Billowing white sails
Look at the stacked sails on both masts, lit cream and pale gold. They fill with wind and make the ship the brightest mass in the picture.
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“Witness the thrilling power of a 19th-century steamship battling the elements, a testament to both maritime engineering and the enduring wildness of the sea off the Casquets.”
ABOUT THIS WORK
A powerful steamship cuts through the choppy waters off the Casquets, its paddlewheels churning foam as it passes the formidable lighthouse. The sky, a dramatic blend of twilight hues, suggests a journey continuing into the evening. This painting captures the raw energy and technological marvel of 19th-century maritime travel, contrasting the enduring natural hazards of the sea with human ingenuity. It’s a moment of both peril and progress, rendered with an eye for the dramatic interplay of light and shadow on the water and the vessel itself. The ship, the ‘Francis John’, is depicted with a specificity that hints at its importance, perhaps a familiar sight to the people of Jersey, where the artist Philip John Ouless was active.
DETAILS
- Artist
- Philip John Ouless
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Jersey Museum and Art Gallery
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What to Notice
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02
The Casquets rocks
On the right horizon, a rocky island carries pale buildings with tall, chimney-like towers. The title names the Casquets, so this is most likely that spot, and it places the voyage in a real setting.
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03
Fishing boat in the swell
On the right, a small dark boat with a tan sail pitches on the wave, with tiny figures aboard. Next to it, the large ship looks even bigger.
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04
Churning wave crests
In the foreground, white foam streaks across dark green water in quick, loose strokes. The rough sea contrasts with the crisp, precise rigging above.
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05Whole painting
Storm and light sky
Dark rain clouds pile up on the right while bright, yellow-lit clouds open toward the center and left. The ship sails away from the heavy weather toward the lighter sky, which frames it.
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THE ARTIST
Philip John Ouless
1817–1885 · United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandPhilip John Ouless was a British painter and watercolorist, known for his detailed works.
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST
Further Works by Ouless
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Portrait of Mary Ann (c.1796–after 1880), Wife of the Reverend George Balleine
1846 · Jersey Museum and Art Gallery
The Reverend George Balleine (1786–1856)
1846 · Jersey Museum and Art Gallery
The Ketch 'Gazelle' of Jersey off Corbiere
1874 · Jersey Museum and Art Gallery
The 'Hebe' of Jersey off Corbiere, and a Paddle Steamer
1874 · Jersey Maritime Museum
Ironclads at sea
1880 · Royal Museums Greenwich
Greenwich Hospital from the north
Royal Museums Greenwich
The barque Patricia
Royal Museums Greenwich
The tea clipper Medina
Royal Museums Greenwich