Reginald Arthur Borstel Attributed Wiscombe Park Marine Oil c.1910-1917

An important early 20th-century marine oil depicting the historic three-masted steel sailing ship *Wiscombe Park*, a substantial British merchant vessel with important Australian connections. Extensively researched and cautiously attributed to Australian maritime painter Reginald Arthur Borstel (1875-1922), circa 1910-1917. Highlights: * Attributed to Reginald Arthur Borstel (1875-1922) * circa 1910-1917, oil on canvas, unsigned * Large canvas approximately 59cm x 90cm * Historic 281 ft, approximately 2,228-ton sailing ship * Built by John Blumer & Co, Sunderland * G. Windram & Co. of Liverpool management connection * Probable "GW&Co" house flag depicted * Separate Borstel *Wiscombe Park* documented in 1917 * Important British-Australian maritime history * David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers provenance Introduction: A compelling documentary marine portrait showing *Wiscombe Park* at sea beneath an impressive spread of sail, her distinctive three-masted rig dominating the composition. The artist records crew figures, extensive rigging and maritime flags in considerable detail, while *WISCOMBE PARK* is clearly visible upon the bow. The prominent red house flag appears to carry reversed "GW&Co" lettering, suggesting G. Windram & Co. of Liverpool. Previously catalogued as English School, subsequent research has identified a significant possible connection with Reginald Arthur Borstel. A separate portrait of *Wiscombe Park* under Borstel's name is documented from 1917. The present unsigned canvas is a different composition and is therefore cautiously catalogued as attributed to Borstel, circa 1910-1917. Catalogue Details: Artist / Attribution: Attributed to Reginald Arthur Borstel (Australian, 1875-1922) Title: *Portrait of the Three-Masted Square Rigger Wiscombe Park* Date: Circa 1910-1917 Medium: Oil on canvas Signed: Unsigned Vessel: *Wiscombe Park* Type: Three-masted steel full-rigged general cargo sailing ship Builder: John Blumer & Co., Sunderland Yard Number: 117 Launched: 4 November 1891 Completed: 1892 Original Owning Company: Ship "Wiscombe Park" Co. Ltd. Managers: G. Windram & Co., Liverpool Port of Registry: Liverpool Official Number: 99361 Signal Letters: WLBP Tonnage: Approximately 2,228 tons Length: Approximately 281 ft Breadth: Approximately 42.2 ft Frame: Later Larson-Juhl moulded gilt frame Catalogue Note: The work was previously offered as English School, early 20th century. Further research has considerably expanded the historical and artistic context of the painting. Most importantly, a separate portrait of *Wiscombe Park* recorded under Reginald Arthur Borstel is dated 1917. It differs from the present work in composition and size and does not authenticate this canvas, but establishes *Wiscombe Park* as a documented Borstel subject. The apparent "GW&Co" house flag provides another significant clue. If correctly associated with G. Windram & Co., it may record the vessel during her earlier Windram-associated appearance before the 1911 ownership change. The physical painting could nevertheless have been executed later from an earlier photographic source. The present attribution to Borstel and circa 1910-1917 dating therefore remain deliberately cautious. Importance & Significance: At approximately 281 feet long and 2,228 tons, *Wiscombe Park* was a substantial steel ocean-going cargo ship built for international deep-sea service. Her three-masted full-rigged configuration was increasingly distinctive for a large commercial sailing vessel at a time when four-masted barques were becoming particularly prominent. The painting consequently preserves the identity and working appearance of a specific vessel from the closing era of international commercial sail. The Artist - Reginald Arthur Borstel: Born in Sydney in 1875, Borstel specialised in portraits of identifiable commercial sailing vessels. His maritime paintings are associated with the Australian tradition of documentary ship portraiture and with the use of photographic source material. Known subjects include *John Ena*, *West Lothian*, *Port Jackson*, *Speedonia* and *Wiscombe Park*. His career has subsequently received specialist scholarly attention. The Ship - Wiscombe Park: John Blumer & Co. built *Wiscombe Park* at Sunderland as yard number 117. She was launched on 4 November 1891 and completed in 1892. Constructed in steel for Ship "Wiscombe Park" Co. Ltd., with G. Windram & Co. of Liverpool acting as managers, she was registered at Liverpool under Official Number 99361. Her approximately 281-foot length and 2,228-ton size made her a substantial long-distance merchant vessel. A surviving F. C. Gould & Son photograph held by Royal Museums Greenwich provides an important period record of the actual ship and her distinctive three-masted rig. **Ownership & Commercial Career** *Wiscombe Park* remained in British service until passing to Chadwick, Wainwright & Co. in 1911. In 1919 she entered French ownership and was renamed *Edouard Bureau*. She subsequently passed into German ownership and was adapted for sail-training service, extending a remarkably long working career. The Australian Connection: Australia formed an important part of *Wiscombe Park's* trading history. Contemporary evidence records Australian-bound activity during the 1910s, and the vessel is documented in Australian waters in 1917. The same year is associated with the separately documented Borstel portrait of *Wiscombe Park*, providing particularly interesting historical context for the attribution. Flags & Dating Evidence: The painting depicts a Red Ensign, Union Flag and prominent red house flag. The latter appears to contain reversed "GW&Co" lettering and is considered strongly suggestive of G. Windram & Co. If correctly identified, it may preserve the vessel's pre-1911 appearance. This helps date the scene represented rather than conclusively dating the physical canvas, which could have been painted later from an earlier photograph. The Documented Borstel Wiscombe Park: A separate portrait of *Wiscombe Park* under Borstel's name is recorded from 1917. It is not the present painting and differs in composition and dimensions. Its importance lies in demonstrating that Borstel is documented as having treated this exact vessel as a subject. Dating the Painting: The present painting is cautiously dated circa 1910-1917. The apparent Windram house flag may point towards a pre-1911 appearance of the ship, while the separate 1917 Borstel work provides a later contextual reference. A later execution based upon an earlier photographic source remains entirely possible. Final Voyage: In 1927 *Wiscombe Park* departed Port Pirie, South Australia, carrying wheat towards Europe. After severe conditions around Cape Horn she eventually reached British waters, but subsequently grounded on Twin Rocks in the Irish Sea. Although refloated, repairs were considered uneconomic and the veteran vessel was ultimately broken up. Wiscombe Park in Maritime Art: British marine painter Herbert Barnard John Everett boarded *Wiscombe Park* at Ipswich in 1921 and made sketches aboard the vessel. Royal Museums Greenwich preserves several Everett works relating directly to *Wiscombe Park*. Together with the separate Borstel portrait, these works provide an unusually rich artistic record of this historic merchant ship. Research Status: The work remains unsigned and the attribution is deliberately qualified. Research continues into the precise date, definitive identification of the house flag and whether a period photographic source corresponding closely with the present composition survives. Provenance: Private collection, Northern England. David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers, Scarborough, 16 January 2025, Lot 4020. Subsequently acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. Earlier provenance remains under investigation. Research Sources: * Royal Museums Greenwich / National Maritime Museum * Design & Art Australia Online * Naval Historical Society of Australia * Neville Pamment, *The Great Circle*, 2018 * Daina Fletcher, Australian maritime-art research. * NSW Shipping Master's Office / Mariners & Ships in Australian Waters * Falkland Islands National Archives. * Historical 1917 Borstel *Wiscombe Park* record * Christie's and Bonhams documented Borstel comparators * Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales * John Blumer & Co. / Sunderland shipbuilding research * David Duggleby Auctioneers & Valuers Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution: The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record. Attribution and Research: The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market. These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. 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