In 1857 the Steam Ship Central America sank off the coast of the Carolinas. I’m writing a short story based on this and went to find some art. The Steamship Erie was a wooden paddlewheel and sailing vessel that traveled on the Great Lakes. It sank in 1837, one of the worst ship disasters on the Great Lakes, where more than 200 people lost their lives.
This vessel, memorialized by an anonymous American painter, was about 190 feet long. The S. S. Central America, built in 1853 was 290 feet long, about the length of a football field, though narrower. The Central America had a covered deck with skylights opening onto the dining lounge and upper class passenger suites. It was designed for the Atlantic. Both boats had paddlewheels and sails.
The Shipwreck, by French painter, Claude-Joseph Vernet, recreates the emotional impact of a ship disaster. Almost all the paintings I found in a quick search portray ships near a coast. Some paintings show heroic efforts to save the ship’s crew.
I liked this working sketch from Vernet. Ten Men Pulling on Ropes, 1700’s.
The S. S. Central America was far off the coast. Another ship did rescue some passengers. This picture helps to illustrate the problems associated with sending a small boat from one large vessel to the other. Only the waves need to be much higher and the boats farther apart. And no land. (Ships in a Gale, 1660. Willem van de Velde, Dutch.)
Six men had to row from one boat to the other and then back again to rescue the women and children from the S. S. Central America. Two boats were smashed the moment they were launched over the side.
The Shipwreck
c. 1880
Elihu Vedder,
American.
Three classic ship wreck stories are those of Jonah, Aeneas, and Saint Paul. I thought there would be art from those stories and so there was. A chaotic storm is portrayed in Jonah’s picture. I love the wind and waves here.
Jonah Thrown into the Stormy Sea, 1610/1620. Justus Sadeler, Flemish.
One more image…
Aeneas in the Storm [reverse]
c. 1571
Giovanni Vincenzo Melone, medalist, Italian.
The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty. Psalm 93: 3-4
I’m going to rejoice that I’m standing on dry land today.
All art is from the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and is in the public domain.
