Antonio Jacobsen (1850 - 1921)

British Auxiliary Steamship in Heavy Seas

Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen (November 2, 1850 – February 2, 1921) was a Danish-born American maritime artist known as the "Audubon of Steam Vessels".

DESCRIPTION:

This ship’s portrait depicts a British merchant steamship of the transitional era, when sail and steam power were used side by side. Flying the Red Ensign and a suite of signal flags, the vessel drives through a lively sea under a darkening sky. Commissioned works of this kind were often ordered by captains or owners as a record of their ship and voyage.

The composition is characteristic of Victorian ship portraits commissioned by captains and owners: the vessel is shown broadside, dominating the picture plane, with an active but controlled seascape and a tonally unified sky. The painting is executed in oil on canvas and retains a period giltwood frame whose design is consistent with late Victorian taste. Overall condition appears good for its age, with stable craquelure and moderate surface toning.

Jacobsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he received formal artistic training at the Royal Academy of Design before emigrating to the United States. He arrived in America in August 1873 and soon established himself in West Hoboken, New Jersey — a thriving waterfront community directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan and New York Harbor. At the time, the harbor was one of the busiest maritime gateways in the world, crowded with vessels engaged in international trade.

He began his career modestly, painting ship images on safes and decorative surfaces. As demand for accurate maritime representation grew, ship owners, captains, and crew members commissioned him to create detailed portraits of their vessels. His reputation developed steadily, built on precision, reliability, and accessibility. Early works were sold for modest sums, often around five dollars, yet they were valued for their faithful rendering of rigging, structure, and identifying features.

Over the course of his career, Jacobsen produced more than 6,000 portraits of sail and steam ships, making him one of the most prolific marine painters of his era. His commissions frequently came directly from sea captains who sought accurate visual records of their ships. He became widely respected not only for the technical exactitude of his depictions, but also for maintaining reasonable fees that made his work accessible to working maritime professionals as well as commercial patrons.