STEAMSHIP ALMIRANTE-SENSATIONAL OIL BY ANTONIO JACOBSEN

Impressive portrait of freighter Almirante

Artist:
The painting is signed "A. Jacobsen" for Antonio Nicolo G. Jacobsen (1850-1921), a well-listed Danish-born American painter. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and studied painting at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen. In 1871 he moved to America to avoid conscription, where at first he lived in New York City and later he moved to West Hoboken, New Jersey. He is famous for his more than 5900 portraits of the vessels including freighters, steamships, sailing vessels, schooners, and yachts. He was one of the greatest American marine painter and is represented in almost every large marine collection in Europe and America, including the Mariner's Museum at Newport News, Mystic Seaport Museum, Peabody Museum, and the New York Historical Society.

Age:
The painting is dated 1911.

Medium:
The painting is a genuine oil painting on board.

Size without frame:
The picture is 55 cm /21,6 inches high and 89 cm /35 inches wide.
The frame itself is 8 cm /3,1 inches wide.

Auction record:
A painting by Antonio Jacobsen was sold at Bonhams, London on the 16 September 2003 for $ 72 149. The oil paintings similar to the offered one are selling for app. $ 50 000.

Description:
Here you are offered a sensational early 20th century oil painting depicting a seascape with the impressive steamship Almirante, of the United Fruit Co, under the American flag, with four decks, two masts and a huge chimney at the centre. The freighter Almirante, built in 1909 , was 379 feet long and displaced 3,121 tons. It sunk in 1918 in a collision with the tanker Hisko, en route from New York to Panama with a cargo of flour. Its impressive silhouette is shown here against the blue cloud–flecked sky. The painting delights with superb technique, meticulous details of the ship and nicely captured effects of water and light.

This painting comes from a private German art collection of Mr. W.P. Luetkens and is fresh to the art market. It is included in Harold S. Sniffen’s catalogue raisonné of the painting and sketches by Antonio Nicolo G. Jacobsen. This very rare catalogue plus a box full of papers and documents regarding the artist, collected by the former owner, will be included with the painting !

In 1985 the price of the painting was estimated by Christie’s at $ 5-8,000. Today’s value of the painting reaches $ 20,000 !

Condition:
The painting is in a good condition but with surface grime and age toning. The elegant partly gilt, black wooden frame is in a  good condition with small chips, minor scratches and abrasions.

We recommend a medium restoration
For further information see our restoration listings in our eBay store.