Oil Painting Barque General Wolsely Sinking Enroute to St John Shore Rescue

🚢 “Disaster Struck in 1875 – Barque General Wolsley Wrecked, Brier Island Crew Rescue”

By H. Bunsey | Oil on Board | C.1975 | Framed & Glazed

⚓ Subject: A Heroic Maritime Rescue at Sea

This powerful seascape captures the dramatic real-life wreck of the Barque General Wolsley, which foundered on Gull Rock Ledge off Brier Island in 1875. Caught in a violent storm while en route from Liverpool to Saint John, New Brunswick, the three-masted cargo vessel is shown floundering helplessly in heavy seas, her sails furled and hull overwhelmed by relentless surf.

In the foreground, brave rescuers on the rocky shoreline operate ropes and a bosun’s chair to ferry survivors to safety. The scene honors the resilience of seafarers and the lifesaving courage of coastal communities. Every crashing wave and rigging line amplifies the tension of this dramatic rescue.

🖌️ Artistic Style & Composition

Painted in a Victorian-influenced traditional marine art style, this late 20th-century oil work channels the energy and visual drama typical of historical shipwreck painting.

• Color Palette: Moody greys and stormy blues dominate the sky and sea, contrasted by the warm ochres and deep blacks of the stricken ship.

• Composition: The viewer’s eye is drawn to the center, where the General Wolsley battles violent waves. Diagonal lines from the ship's masts and rescue lines create dynamic movement, while the rugged shoreline anchors the foreground.

• Emotion: The expressive brushwork conveys the chaos of the sea and the desperation of survival, capturing a moment suspended between disaster and deliverance.

This is a narrative painting—telling a complete, emotionally charged story in one frame.

🚢 About the Ship – General Wolsley, Barque of Saint John

The General Wolsley was a three-masted barque, a proud product of 19th-century Canadian shipbuilding. Built in 1874at St. Martins, New Brunswick, this robust cargo vessel was constructed specifically for transatlantic trade. Registered at 720–750 tons, with impressive dimensions of 153.5 feet long, 32.8 feet wide, and 19.5 feet deep, she was a strong and capable merchant ship of her era.

Operating out of Saint John, New Brunswick, she sailed under the Canadian flag, navigating the perilous North Atlantic. On only her second voyage, General Wolsley departed from Liverpool, England, fully loaded and en route to Saint John. Among her valuable cargo was a brand new organ worth $6,000, destined for the St. John Cathedral—a major spiritual and cultural landmark in the region.

The total estimated value of the ship was $32,000, a significant sum in the 19th century. She was insured for five-eighths of that amount—highlighting both her economic and cultural importance.

Tragically, on August 19, 1875, while navigating thick fog and treacherous currents near Gull Rock Ledge off Brier Island, the vessel struck the rocks and began to break apart. Waves surged across the deck, and the General Wolsley was soon beyond saving.

⚠️ Despite the severity of the wreck, all crew members miraculously survived, thanks to a daring shoreline rescue operation that involved rigging lines and the use of a bosun’s chair—a moment of human courage captured vividly in this painting.

Today, the General Wolsley is remembered not just for her tragic end, but for her role in 19th-century maritime commerce and her part in the rich seafaring heritage of the Canadian Atlantic.

👨🎨 The Artist – H. Bunsey

Signed indistinctly in the lower corner, this piece is by H. Bunsey, a British artist whose work reflects strong traditional and maritime themes. Though not widely documented, Bunsey’s brushwork and storytelling convey deep knowledge of marine subject matter and historical drama, making this a standout piece for collectors of 20th-century marine art.

🖼️ Medium & Frame

• Medium: Oil on board

• Frame: Original vintage gilt wood frame with front protective glass (glazed)

• Display Size: 37 cm wide × 27 cm high × 3 cm deep

• Ready to Hang: Sturdy thread on the back for immediate display

The gilt frame enhances the painting’s depth and period feel, complementing the stormy intensity of the scene.

🧾 Provenance

• Private Marine Collection

• Labelled Arquati Brev Frame

• Acquired via Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

• Selected for subject, quality, and historical relevance

🌟 Why You’ll Love It:

✅ A dramatic maritime masterpiece that captures the intensity of one of Canada’s most heroic 19th-century sea rescues — visually rich and historically resonant
✅ Combines nautical accuracy with painterly emotion, bringing to life the stormy chaos and split-second bravery of the Brier Island rescue
✅ A tribute to human courage and maritime legacy, painted in a powerful style that echoes Victorian shipwreck art
✅ The expressive waves, desperate rigging lines, and looming coastline create a sense of cinematic urgency and emotional weight

🧭 Condition Report

• Painting: Good vintage condition overall, with minor craquelure and foxing typical of age

• Frame: Some scuffs, minor chips, and wear in keeping with use and time

• Presented in fine used condition ready for display

• imperfections, it remains structurally sound and visually striking.

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🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.