A Ship off a Headland

A sketch from the 'Suzanne' looking towards a ship on the left and a headland on the right. Everett shows the land as a dark shape silhouetted against a lighter grey sky. The small fortification on the promontory enhances the dramatic effect. The water in the foreground is calm and painted in layers of grey and green paint, becoming darker as it moves towards the horizon. The sky is shown as patches of grey tones representing cloud. These darken over the land towards the right, although there is also a play of light on the clouds. The brilliance of the light is reflected in the water in the centre of the painting.

Everett made his final two journeys in a deep-water ship on board the 'Suzanne' between 1928-29 and 1930. Following World War I, in which a large number of ships were lost, it became extremely difficult to find a berth. This Danish barque was built in 1880. British owned, she was originally known as the 'Kylemore', became Norwegian in 1907 and Danish in 1915. In 1925 a change in ownership brought a change in name to the 'Suzanne', the name of the ship when Everett sailed on her. It was effectively a training ship since the Danish crew was sailing in her to earn their tickets and received no wages. Everett returned from the second voyage with 83 oils and 300 drawings.

Between November 1928 and January 1929 Everett sailed in the 'Suzanne' from Calais to Pointe a Pitre, Guadaloupe. While at Le Havre, Everett heard that the Danish barque was in Calais loading for Martinique and he decided to join her because he wanted another journey under sail. He praised the seamanship on board and said everything was done under sail. Once in Jamaica it took six weeks to unload, and he continued his journey on board SS 'Changuinola', owned by Elder and Fife. On his second journey in the 'Suzanne' in 1930, he sailed from Le Havre to Black River, Jamaica, in November, arriving at Black River on 16 December. This was the last voyage Everett ever made in sailing ships.

Object Details

ID: BHC1358
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Everett, (Herbert Barnard) John
Vessels: Suzanne (1880)
Date made: 1928-1930; 1928-30
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Bequeathed by the artist 1949.
Measurements: Painting: 257 x 355 mm