The Belgian marine artist Louis Verboeckhoven trained under his father Barthélemy, a sculptor, and his older brother, Eugène, a celebrated animal painter. Studying under Frans Balthasar Solvyns in Ghent, Louis developed an interest in marine painting and his work was highly regarded. He travelled and painted the coasts of the Netherlands, France and England, documenting many of the small harbours along the Scheldt which have since disappeared or been built up. He became a member of the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam and the Salon in Paris, and his work can be found in institutions throughout Europe. Read more here.

The John Fielden was built at St. Martin's, New Brunswick by Brown & Carson in 1846. She was of 916 tons and measured 157' x 31'2" x 21'. Her owner was John Wishert, a St. John merchant who was born at Montrose, Scotland in 1799. She was sold to Liverpool in November 1847 and was employed in the Australian immigration trade. On a voyage from Liverpool to Moreton Bay in 1853 she carried 393 passengers. She went missing in 1860.

Helen's Bank was built in Kincardine, Perthshire in 1869. She was 317 tons, with the official number 20794. She was owned by James Baird Wright, and registered in Alloa, Firth of Forth. By 1871 she was owned by William Thompson of Dixon of Liverpool, but in 1872 she no longer appeared on the Mercantile Marine List.

The Revenge was built at Pembroke Dockyard at a cost of 98,583 British Poiunds and was launched April 16, 1859. She was the sixth vessel of this name and was a 3318 ton vessel of the "Reknown" class with 91 guns. Her dimensions were 244' 9" x 55' 4" x 24' 6" with a displacement of 5,500 tons. Originally to be of the James Watt class, Walker decided to improve the lines and provide space for more powerful machinery. In 1861 and 1862 the Revenge was flagship of the channel fleet under Rear Admiral Smart and Captain Charles Fellowes. She was also in the Mediterranean, and was the flagship for Admiral Yelverton in Valetta, Malta.

The Jane Sprott was an iron barque with number 58900, built at Harrington in 1868 by R.W. Williamson & Son for J.B. Sprott of Mannering Road, Liverpool. She was 688 tons with dimensions 176' x 30' x 19'. Her signal letters were HPVJ. After 1890 she was owned by Jackson & Metcalf, also of Liverpool. She was bought by the Adelaide Steamship Company circa 1902, renamed Copeland Island, and then Copeland. She was used as a hulk in Albay until 1928, when she was scuttled on May 18, 1928 at Gull Rock, near Albany, Australia.

This stunning work by renowned Danish marine artist Vilhelm Melbye depicts the famous steam frigate Sjaelland, known for its part in the naval battle of Jasmund during the Second Schleswig War on March 17, 1864. She was the middle of three sister ships, the Niels Juel, Sjaelland, and Jylland which were sail and screw propelled steam frigates as well as sailing ships, the world’s largest wooden war ships. Fregatten Jylland is preserved today as a museum in Ebeltoft, Denmark and considered a national treasure.

for caption under Schotel photo (to left) once we take it:
‘Ship in a Turbulent Sea’ oil on canvas laid on board, unsigned, copy of "Ships in a Turbulent Sea" by Johannes Christiaan Schotel, 1826 in the Rijksmuseum SK-A-1131 Attributed to Johannes Christiaan Schotel (Dutch 1787-1838) Size: 18 3/4 h x 22 ½ w in (with frame 26 ½ h x 29 ½ w in) J21205