Joseph Sempill ( Irish, active 1867-1874) Portrait of the Bark George Kingman

Description:

Joseph Sempill ( Irish, active 1867-1874)

Portrait of the Bark George Kingman of Boston. Signed and dated "J. Sempill Belfast 1874," l.r. Oil on canvas, the title below includes "Capt. Daniel H. Howes," the ship is pictured in profile passing the Maidens off the Antrim coast, with an American flag flying from her peak, the Liverpool coast in the background, 19 3/4 x 30 1/2 in., in an old wood frame. Condition: Good, unrestored, flyspecks.

Note: Joseph Sempill, or Semple, lived in Belfast, Ireland, and was a ship portrait artist concentrating mainly on English and Irish vessels. The George Kingman was built in Newburyport, Massachusetts, by John Currier in 1865. It was enrolled in Boston and Charlestown, Massachusetts harbors. She was 133 feet in length. Stephen G. Hammond had the largest share of ownership: 7/64ths. Accompanying this lot is a photographic image of Captain Daniel Howes, captain of this ship, encased in a gilt-metal locket/pin with polished patterned hardstone on the reverse; the 1864 bill of sale for the Bark George Kingman of Boston listing Stephen G. Hammond of Melrose as the owner of 1/64th of the vessel with Hope Howes of Chatham owning the same share; another document from 1876 that lists Capt. Daniel Howes as captain of the Bark George Kingman on two pages removed from a ledger book; a Philadelphia document listing Stephen Hammond as an owner of the George Kingman for his payment of $3000.00; and the daily log of the George Kingman at sea in August 1876.
Estimate $1,000-1,500

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