SUSAN GILMORE
Artist
William Pierce Stubbs
(1842-1909 American)
Date1880s
Object number00005649
NamePainting
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsOverall: 655 x 1010 x 54 mm, 5.4 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
Collections
DescriptionAn oil painting on canvas by William Pierce Stubbs of the ship SUSAN GILMORE in a storm.
Ship portraits were often commissioned to commemorate a particular vessel or event, such as the wrecking of a vessel. This painting depicts the American vessel SUSAN GILMORE in rough stormy seas and conditions of low visiblity. The vessel became grounded on a Newcastle beach on 4 July 1884. All the crew members onboard the ship were rescued including the ships' two dogs, cat and bird. The beach is now known as Susan Gilmore.HistoryThe era of the clipper ships was dominated by a sense of romance, competition, national pride and innovative technology. The sleek and graceful ships were a symbol of modernity in America and a fundamental part of the expanding global economy. Their design concentrated on speed instead of cargo capacity and was a great benefit to shipping companies eager to transport goods quickly.
The SUSAN GILMORE was a clipper ship built in Massachusetts, United States in 1874 and used for transporting cargo between the United States and Australia. The ship only saw ten years service before it was completely destroyed on a Newcastle beach.SignificanceThis dramatic painting records the wreck of the SUSAN GILMORE and highlights the shipping trade between America and Australia during the 19th century.
