“Stop to admire *The tea clipper Medina*, a striking portrait of a marvel of 19th-century engineering. This painting showcases the beauty and speed of these iconic ships, central to global trade and maritime ambition.”
This painting captures the sleek, powerful form of the tea clipper Medina as it cuts through the water, sails billowing against a dramatic sky. The vessel dominates the canvas, depicted with a precision that highlights its innovative design, built for speed in the competitive tea trade. Ouless, born in 1817, created this work during a period when clippers represented the pinnacle of maritime engineering and international commerce. The painting conveys the dynamic energy of the ship, with careful attention to the rigging and the way light plays across the canvas, reflecting off the water and illuminating the sails. It’s a vivid snapshot of a specific moment in maritime history, celebrating both the beauty of the ship and the era of global trade it embodied.
- Artist
- Philip John Ouless
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Royal Museums Greenwich
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The intricate network of ropes and rigging that support the towering masts.
The way the sunlight catches the white sails, making them almost glow.
The churning wake behind the ship, indicating its speed and power.
The subtle variations in the blue and green of the sea, from calm to choppy.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through The tea clipper Medina — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
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.
Further Works by Ouless
Ironclads at sea
1880 · Royal Museums Greenwich
Greenwich Hospital from the north
Royal Museums Greenwich
The barque Patricia
Royal Museums Greenwich
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 'Hebe' of Jersey off Corbiere, and a Paddle Steamer
1874 · Jersey Maritime Museum
The Ketch 'Gazelle' of Jersey off Corbiere
1874 · Jersey Museum and Art Gallery
The 'Francis John' Passing the Casquets
Jersey Museum and Art Gallery