Victorian Maritime Masterpiece – Susannah Thrift Brig & Pilot Ship St Nicholas c1880

⚓️ Victorian Maritime Masterpiece – Susannah Thrift Brig & Pilot Ship St Nicholas by G. Ramsey, c.1880 🌊

Fine 19th Century British Marine Oil Painting | Original Signed Work | Late Victorian Period

🖌️ Subject & Medium

A spectacular and atmospheric Victorian maritime oil painting depicting the renowned British square-rigged brig “Susannah Thrift” accompanied by her pilot ship “St Nicholas.”
Executed in oil on canvas by the British marine painter G. Ramsey, this evocative work captures the might and romance of seafaring life in the late 19th century.

Painted circa 1880, the composition reflects Britain’s proud maritime era, when craftsmanship, commerce, and courage defined the age of sail.

🌅 Composition & Technique

This commanding marine seascape portrays the Susannah Thrift in full sail, viewed in starboard profile as she surges through choppy coastal waters beneath a dramatic Victorian sky.

Her Red Ensign and Union Jack flags wave proudly at the stern, while whitecaps crash against her wooden hull. Ramsey’s masterful brushwork brings every detail to life — from the crew figures on deck to the rope rigging, billowing canvas sails, and weather-darkened sea foam below.

To the left, the red-hulled pilot ship “St Nicholas” follows close behind, navigating through retreating cliffs and open water. In the far distance, a windmill and anchored ships glimmer along the horizon — touches that root the composition firmly in Britain’s working coastlines.

The artist’s deft handling of light and shadow — the interplay between bright sky and darkening storm clouds — conveys both the power and poetry of the sea.

This is a true Victorian maritime masterpiece, combining historical fidelity with emotional depth.

⚓️ About the Ship “Susannah Thrift”

Name: Susannah Thrift
Type: Square-rigged Brigg | Launched: 1865
Builder: Robert Fulton, Newcastle | Construction: Wood
Dimensions: 102.9 ft × 25.0 ft × 14.3 ft | Tonnage: 219 GRT
Registered: North Shields (No. 49760)

Built at Newcastle by Robert Fulton for Robert Thrift of Blyth, the Susannah Thrift was a celebrated merchant vessel famed for her reliability and swift passages. She sailed extensively between the Tyne, Lisbon, and British coastal ports, trading in cork, salt, and coal.

Over her career, she passed through the hands of prominent northern shipowners, including Matthew Pearson and William Clarkson of South Shields.

Her distinguished career ended tragically on 13 October 1899, when she sank off Dover after a collision with the steamer Leopold II. Her crew narrowly escaped with their lives — the event recorded in the Shields Daily Gazette as a dramatic and heroic maritime rescue.

The Susannah Thrift was considered one of the last brigs launched from Newcastle Quay, a fine example of mid-Victorian shipbuilding excellence.

This painting immortalises her memory — a timeless homage to a vessel lost but not forgotten.

👨🎨 The Artist – G. Ramsey (Active 1856–1889)

G. Ramsey was a respected British marine artist, active during the height of the Victorian maritime era. His works are characterised by technical precision, atmospheric realism, and historically faithful depictions of identified ships.

Ramsey’s knowledge of vessel rigging, light, and sea conditions suggests first-hand familiarity with shipyards and ports — likely through direct commissions from shipowners.
His paintings are now sought after for their blend of documentary accuracy and romantic artistry, capturing the pride of Britain’s maritime dominance.

✍️ Signed

Signed “G. Ramsey” lower right in the artist’s distinctive hand.

🖼️ Frame

Presented in its original 19th-century gilt frame, richly ornamented with floral and acanthus leaf carvings. The frame retains its authentic aged patina, beautifully complementing the marine palette of the painting.
Minor historical touch-ups and age-related wear contribute to its genuine Victorian charm.

📏 Dimensions (Including Frame)

Height: 66.5 cm
Width: 92 cm
Depth: 6.5 cm

📜 Provenance

Acquired from a notable Yorkshire auction house specialising in fine British and European paintings.
Curated and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd, with full verification of authenticity and historical context.
Retains a biographical label verso, detailing the story of the Susannah Thrift and her maritime significance.

Title: “Susannah Thrift square rigged brigg off the coast with pilot Ship St Nicholas”
Period: Late Victorian, circa 1880
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Artist: G. Ramsey (active 1856–1889)

A museum-quality British maritime artwork with full provenance and strong historical significance.

💙 Why You’ll Love It

✅ Authentic 19th-century British maritime artwork with verified provenance
✅ Signed original by respected marine painter G. Ramsey
✅ Captures a known and documented ship with a storied past
✅ Retains its original gilt frame – ready to hang and admire
✅ Combines artistic mastery, historical storytelling, and period authenticity
✅ Ideal for collectors, coastal homes, or interior designers seeking true heritage pieces
✅ A fine investment-grade antique, celebrating Britain’s seafaring legacy

🧾 Condition Report

The painting remains in fine, presentable condition with genuine antique character. The surface displays areas of light craquelure, minor paint loss, and foxing consistent with age. The gilt frame bears minor chips and old restorations, all adding to its authentic 19th-century presence.

A light professional clean could further enhance the vibrancy of colour, though it displays beautifully in its current, untouched state. A strong hanging thread is fitted to the reverse, allowing for immediate wall display.