Magnificent, Tragic Mystery Clipper

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Here we have an intricately detailed mystery ship captured under full sail, flying an American flag, in unknown but well-painted … Read more Here we have an intricately detailed mystery ship captured under full sail, flying an American flag, in unknown but well-painted seas. Noted on the verso, actually inked on the aged canvas’ selvage, are three hints that could possibly illuminate this ship’s story: a port, a year, and potentially the artist’s name. As no clipper ship by the name San Francisco ever existed, history detectives might reasonably infer that this work was created in San Francisco, and that it was created in 1905 by E. Schulze, who signed the work.
Coincidentally, in November 1905, a matching clipper ship was navigating toward the Golden Gate entrance to San Francisco’s harbor when it crashed upon Mussel Rock just southwest of the famed opening. Christened the “Gifford,” the wreck was a four-masted steel barque built in Scotland in 1892. Several photos exist of this lost ship that look remarkably similar to the subject of this painting. So perhaps this was painted as a tribute to that lost ship. Nothing is known of the artist, but they may well be one of those in San Francisco's active artistic community who were wiped out by the horrific 1906 earthquake and citywide fire. The mystery of this spirited ship remains. See less