Thomas Chambers (1808–1869) Lived/Active: New York and Massachusetts

Ship Great Western Off Sandy Hook
Unsigned, ca. 1844-45
Oil on canvas
21” x 30”, 27” x 36 ¼” (frame)
Full condition report available upon request.
Provenance: Harry Shaw Newman Gallery, New York, New York, 1949; Private Collection.
Literature: Kathleen A. Foster, Thomas Chambers: American Marine and Landscape Painter, 1808-1869 (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2008), fig. 2-10, pg. 32.
One of Thomas Chambers’ more compelling maritime subjects, the S.S. Great Western was a pioneering steam-powered vessel launched from Bristol in 1837, designed by the renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Its record-setting transatlantic crossing in 1838 secured its place in maritime history, and its symbolic dual display of American and British flags reflected its international significance.
This painting, Ship Great Western Off Sandy Hook, is one of only four known depictions of the vessel by Chambers. Capturing the ship as it passes Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the composition exemplifies Chambers’ distinctive approach—dramatic skies, striking contrasts, and a rhythmic sense of movement that sets his maritime work apart from more formal contemporaries. His rendering conveys not only the grandeur of the vessel but also the spirit of innovation it embodied.
Rediscovered in 2024 after being out of view for 75 years, the painting stands as a particularly strong and rare example of Chambers’ engagement with a historically significant subject.
Special thanks to Kathleen Foster, Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Curator of American Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, for her assistance in cataloging the work.

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