Historic Ss Great Britain Steamship Large Gilt Framed Marine Oil on Panel C1970's Signed Salvatore Colacicco

Details

Description

Suggested Chairish Title
Salvatore Colacicco “SS Great Britain” Large Framed Marine Oil on Panel
Description
Large original marine oil painting … Read more Suggested Chairish Title
Salvatore Colacicco “SS Great Britain” Large Framed Marine Oil on Panel
Description
Large original marine oil painting on wood panel by acclaimed Italian-British artist Salvatore Colacicco, depicting the historic transatlantic steamship SS Great Britain. The ship is shown in full profile in her rare early six-masted configuration with a single funnel, driving through the Atlantic under both sail and steam. Painted circa 1970s, this work echoes the decade in which the real vessel was dramatically salvaged and brought home to Bristol.
Subject & Medium
Oil on wood panel, signed lower left by Salvatore Colacicco.
The reverse retains an information sheet about the artist and SS Great Britain, together with auction and stock labels.
Composition & Style
Colacicco combines meticulous historical detail with a strong sense of drama and atmosphere. The Atlantic swells in the foreground are built up in deep navy, cobalt and stormy grey, with crisp white crests suggesting spray and breaking waves. The sky moves from heavy cloud to clearer blue, layered in cool greys, slate tones and soft ochres to create a shifting, maritime light.
The iron hull, rigging and deck structures are painted with precise draughtsmanship, picking out lifeboats, deckhouses and tiny crew figures. By contrast, the sea and sky are handled more loosely, giving the scene movement and life. Details such as the red ensign and colourful signal flags provide sharp accents of colour. The result is a dramatic, atmospheric statement piece that celebrates both the power of the sea and the elegance of Brunel’s engineering.
About the Ship – SS Great Britain
Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched in 1843 for the Great Western Steamship Company, SS Great Britain was the first large passenger ship to combine an iron hull, screw propulsion and steam power. At the time of her launch she was the largest ship afloat, and her 1845 maiden voyage to New York in just 14 days was a sensation.
From the early 1850s she made regular voyages to Australia, carrying thousands of emigrants and playing an important role in the story of global migration. Later converted to full sail, she finished her working life in the Falkland Islands as a storage and quarantine hulk. In 1970 she was famously rescued, towed back across the Atlantic and brought to Bristol, where she has since been restored as a museum ship and a key part of the UK’s National Historic Fleet.
Colacicco’s decision to depict her with six masts under both sail and steam reflects this pioneering early phase of her career and underlines the historical importance of the subject.
About the Artist – Salvatore Colacicco (b. 1935)
Born in Bellagio, Italy, Salvatore Colacicco trained at the Brera Academy in Milan before settling in England. He is internationally recognised for traditional marine paintings in the 19th-century British maritime style.
Colacicco was commissioned by the Russell-Cotes Museum to paint a series of twenty-six panels of historic paddle steamers, and his work has long been sought after in the United States, particularly through Tonkins of Nantucket Island. His paintings hang in executive boardrooms and private collections worldwide, and auction results include prices in excess of $5,000 at major international houses and on design platforms such as 1stdibs.
Frame & Presentation
The painting is presented in an ornate gilt frame with rich moulded detail that suits the scale and grandeur of the subject. It has been fitted with strong modern metal brackets and wire and is ready to hang.
Dimensions (Framed)
Height: 64.5 cm (approx. 25.5 inches)
Width: 90 cm (approx. 35.5 inches)
Depth: 5.5 cm (approx. 2.25 inches)
Provenance
Private collection, United Kingdom
Lawrence Fine Art Auctioneers Ltd, Crewkerne, UK
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd, UK (present owner)
The Lawrence auction label and the artist/ship information sheet are retained on the reverse, providing useful documentary context.

Why It Works on Your Wall
Historically accurate depiction of Brunel’s pioneering SS Great Britain in her rare six-masted configuration under sail and steam
Original work by a recognised marine specialist with strong museum and auction record
Dramatic sea, sky and light effects that will anchor a room and create a true focal point
Ideal for maritime enthusiasts, collectors of marine art, admirers of Victorian engineering, or anyone with a connection to Bristol or transatlantic history
Ready to hang and perfectly suited to a study, library, hallway, office, club room or coastal home See less