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Joseph Semple(Irish, 1830-1877)T & J Harrison's auxiliary screw steamer Alice passing the Skerries, North Wales, homeward bound for Liverpool
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Joseph Semple (Irish, 1830-1877)
signed, dated and inscribed 'J.Semple. 61 Corporation St Belfast' (lower right)
oil on canvas
58.8 x 99cm (23 1/8 x 39in).
Footnotes
LITERATURE:
Graeme Cubbin, Harrison's of Liverpool, World Ship Society
A.S.Davidson, Marine Art & Ulster, Jones-Sands Publishing
The Skerries reef with lighthouse is clearly visible under the tip of the steamer's bowsprit and just astern is the familiar outline of Holyhead Mountain and the South Stack.
Constructed of iron by Backhouse and Dixon of Middlesborough in 1865, Alice was purchased the following year for one of Liverpool's most prestigious shipping companies, T & J Harrison. At the main masthead is the company's familiar house flag, a red Maltese Cross, confirmed by the well known funnel colours (dubbed by the Liverpool locals "two of fat and one of lean"). This painting showing Alice with her original two masts is of some interest since extensive modifications, including an additional third mast, were carried out at Belfast in 1868.
This would explain why Belfast's resident marine artist, Joseph Semple, was favourably located to secure the commission based on the steamer's original appearance as recorded in 1867.
Following various changes of ownership, S.S.Alice eventually reverted to Middlesborough ownership in 1886. Sadly, after leaving Riga for London on 19 September 1887 she disappeared with her crew of eighteen.
We are grateful to Dr. Sam Davidson for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.
























