The TORRISDALE Entering Sydney Harbour

Artist Reginald Arthur Henry Borstel (Australian, 1875 - 1922)

Datec 1910

Object number00033602

NamePainting

MediumOil on academy board, framed

DimensionsOverall: 620 x 780 x 45 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

Sydney

DescriptionThis oil painting depicts the steel, four-masted barque TORRISDALE entering Sydney Harbour under full sail. TORRISDALE was constructed in Glasgow in 1892 for J and A Roxburgh. The work is inscribed 'Adelaide Photo Co NSW', indicating that it was painted between 1898 and 1909 when Borstel worked on commissions with the company. Borstel and other artists associated with the company worked from photographs as studies, and often used sail plans supplied by the ship's master in order to portray the ship in full sail - a view not usually seen except out at sea.HistoryThe four-masted 2,316 ton steel barque TORRISDALE was built in 1892 by D W Henderson & Co at Port Glasgow. The vessel was launched in July 1892 for J and A Roxburgh for use on the Australian trade. In 1922 TORRISDALE was sold to Roberts, Owen & Co of Liverpool, and in 1912 was wrecked in the entrance to Gray's Harbour, Western Australia, on a voyage from Caleta Coloso to Astoria, Oregon.SignificanceThe painting is an example of the naive style of ship portraiture popular in the late 19th century. Such images were often painted from photographs, providing the high level of detail demanded by the marine art market. It also represents the group of ship portraitists active in Sydney and working with the Adelaide Photo Company around the turn of the 20th century.