A Fine Ship's Portrait of the 'Sea King' by Benjamin Loy circa 1865

This highly detailed and beautiful oil portrait is signed 'Benjamin Loy' and depicts the 'Sea King" entering a harbor. The Sea King was built in Canada in 1863. She was 176 feet long and was registered at 1,072 tons. Benjamin Loy was born in Nova Scotia, the son of a merchant seaman. A self taught painter, it is likely that he too spent some time at sea as he certainly developed a great affinity with it and the ships that graced its waters. Loy was not a prolific artist; he completed very few works of art during his short career from 1865-1867. He painted with great passion and represented an almost non-existant Canadian School of Painters.
Canvas size: 22" x 31" Framed size: 28" x 37 1/2" (the carved frame is 20th century).