Oil painting. This passenger screw-steamer was built by William Denny of Dumbarton, on the Clyde, for the Montreal Ocean Shipping Company (otherwise known, from 1897, as the Allan Line from the family that founded it in 1854): it was launched for transatlantic service on 11 January 1861. Originally 280 feet long and of 2449 gross registered tons, the ship was lengthened in 1871 to 351.2ft (2752 tons) and rebuilt again and re-engined in 1885 at 3440 tons. The original three-masted barque auxiliary rig was also changed in 1885 to two masts. Ownership remained with the Allan Line until it was broken up in 1901. William Clark of Greenock (1803-83) was a notable Clyde ship portraitist and this appears to be one of the paintings he did for Denny's, as the builder, since they presented it to the Museum in 1964. [PvdM 10.23]