19th Century Nautical Shipwreck Oil Painting on the Rocks Off Dunstanburgh Castle by Claude Thomas Stanfield Moore

Details

Description

British Nautical 19th Century Marine Shipwreck Oil Painting
Fast on the Rocks off Dunstanburgh Castle, 1876 By Claude Thomas Stanfield … Read more British Nautical 19th Century Marine Shipwreck Oil Painting
Fast on the Rocks off Dunstanburgh Castle, 1876 By Claude Thomas Stanfield Moore (British, 1853–1901)

Subject & Medium ️
This dramatic coastal seascape by Claude Thomas Stanfield Moore captures the wreck of a three-masted sailing ship as it breaks apart on the rocks beneath the looming silhouette of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Painted circa 1876, Fast on the Rocks off Dunstanburgh Castle is a powerful reflection on human fragility, nature’s fury, and the endurance of history. Executed in oil on board, the composition sets a shattered vessel against jagged rocks, its sails torn and mast collapsed, while sailors in lifeboats battle the storm-driven waves. Gulls circle above, and beyond the chaos, the medieval towers of Dunstanburgh rise in stark silhouette — silent witnesses to tragedy.

Composition & Technique
Moore masterfully balances narrative drama with Romantic symbolism:
Foreground: jagged rocks, crashing surf, and the broken hull emphasize immediacy and peril.
Figures: sailors struggling in lifeboats form the emotional center of the work.
Background: Dunstanburgh Castle looms against a storm-darkened sky, illuminated by shafts of golden light — a beacon of endurance amid disaster.

Brushwork & Palette
Expressive strokes capture swirling waves and storm clouds.
Fine precision defines rigging, rocky cliffs, and castle towers.
Deep greens, steel blues, and storm greys dominate the sea and sky, offset by warm ochres in the wreck and radiant gold where light breaks through.
Turner’s atmospheric influence is clear in the diffused play of mist and spray, while Stanfield’s precision grounds the nautical details. This union of atmosphere and accuracy places Moore firmly in the Victorian Romantic tradition — a painter of both spectacle and allegory.

Signature ✍️
Signed lower right: C.T. Moore 1876

About the Artist
Claude Thomas Stanfield Moore (1853–1901) was a British painter admired for maritime and landscape subjects.
Exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution.
Influenced by Turner (atmosphere) and Stanfield (nautical detail).
Specialized in shipwrecks, storms, and coastal drama.
His career ended prematurely at 48, yet his works remain highly collected, with auction prices reaching $40,000 USD.

Frame ️
Refitted in a Larson Juhl gold-leaf “Venice” moulding with dome profile, protected by AR70 museum-grade glass — enhancing both presentation and preservation.
Dimensions: Framed: 44 cm × 27 cm × 3 cm
Dunstanburgh Castle – History & Symbolism
Built in 1313 by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, Dunstanburgh Castle was both fortress and political statement. Seized by the Crown after Lancaster’s execution, it later became part of England’s northern defenses.
Wars of the Roses: a Lancastrian stronghold, often held by the Percy family.
Decline: by the 16th century, abandoned and quarried for stone.
Romantic Rediscovery: celebrated by Turner, Girtin, and 19th-century artists for its dramatic setting.
Today: preserved by English Heritage, it remains a Northumberland landmark.
In Moore’s painting, the wreck below symbolizes fleeting human struggle, while the castle above endures as a testament to history.
Provenance

Signed, dated, and titled by the artist (1876).
Likely acquired by a private British collector in the late 19th century.
Exhibited at Famous Lord Hill Museum.
Notable Yorkshire based Auction & curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

A signed and dated Romantic wreck scene with Dunstanburgh Castle makes this one of Moore’s stronger market entries.

Why Collect This Piece ❤️
✅ Quintessential Victorian shipwreck drama — Turner-like atmosphere, Stanfield-like precision
✅ Rare, signed, and dated 1876 example by Moore
✅ Historic subject: shipwreck beneath the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle
✅ Romantic palette of storm-greens, silvers, ochres, and radiant golds
✅ Premium Larson Juhl gold-leaf frame with museum glass


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