Francis Hustwick

Depicted in port view from the traditional leeward aspect, 'Sirocco' flies the US pilot jack at the foremast, requesting a Liverpool pilot. Under the tip of the ship's bowsprit a pilot cutter is seen approaching in response. The latter's white hull with upper black band and yellow stripe is typical of the artist. Astern of the pilot cutter is a straight stemmed paddle steamer having a black funnel with an upper red band. Clearly a US Collin liner, she displays the US ensign at her stern, and probably a courtesy British flag at the foremast.

Parys Mountain (see map) is the prominent eminence behind the cutter's mast. At this distance the Point Lynas lighthouse is not discernible, being sited at cliff top level. The location was a popular rendezvous between incoming ships and Liverpool pilots, and provides a background for one of the artist's most popular compositions. Hustwick appears fond of flags, frequently displaying the Marryat Code 'ship's number', as in this instance. Here the signal hoist at the mizzen peak reads 2nd. Distinguishing pendant, 9,3,6,1, correctly signifying 'Sirocco'. The vessel is also depicted outward-bound in stern view on the right of the painting, a ploy common to the Liverpool School, and one which Hustwick frequently used.

A particularly interesting feature in this painting is the artist's use of the 'red underlined' US flag.* This is probably deliberate, since it is repeated in the stern view. Correct usage requires the blue canton (the blue portion containing the stars) to rest upon the first of the long white stripes, (see illustration) not upon an elongated red one as painted. Although not invariably the case, this feature occurs in the great majority of Hustwick's paintings of American vessels. When noted in an unsigned painting of an American vessel in the Liverpool approaches, it is an additional clue alerting the viewer to the fact that Hustwick should be seriously considered in the list of possible attributions.

'Sirocco' 1,130 tons was built in 1852 by William and George Gardiner of Baltimore and is comprehensively described in "Merchant Sail" by William Armstrong Fairburn

[*The writer is indebted to his son Andrew, for this original observation and serial analysis]

Oil on canvas 28" x 42" courtesy of John F. Rinaldi, NAUTICAL ANTIQUES,
Kennebunkport, Maine, where the painting is currently exhibited (September 2002)