American Clipper White Squall 1861 Pierhead Watercolour Painting

American Clipper White Squall 1861 A most interesting watercolour painting of the handsome US Clipper the White Squall, flying a rare version of the Union flag. Indistinctly signed, dated 1861, bears a later inscription verso in Swedish and presented in a beautifully distressed frame. There were a number of ships which carried the name White Squall in the 19th century. I think this one was the 1118 tons Clipper by Jacob Bell for W Platt and Sons of Philadelphia. This genre of painting is commonly referred to as Pierhead painting where artists accepted commissions from ship owners, captains or members of the crew whilst the ship was in dock. Often this type of painting is very accurate in its depiction of detail rather than artistic in composition. Provenance Purchased at auction in Sweden, copy invoice available to purchaser. Condition Slight glue stain top left side, small scratch bottom left corner, otherwise in good condition. Size 24cm x 33cm (28cm x 37cm framed) 9.5 x 13 inches (11 x 14.5 inches framed)