02 Classic Works of Art, Marine Paintings - With Footnotes, #121

Tommaso de Simone, Italian 1805-1888

The sail and steamship HMS Pallas coming into port, c. 1884

Oil on canvas

26x39.5

Private collection

HMS Pallas was a purpose-built wooden-hulled ironclad of the Royal Navy, designed as a private venture by Sir Edward Reed, and accepted by the Board of Admiralty because, as an economy measure, they wished to use up the stocks of seasoned timber held in the Woolwich Dockyard. The fact that Woolwich was not equipped to build iron ships was also relevant.

She was built with two of her big guns on either broadside and the others mounted in the extreme bow and stern as chase guns. The small number of guns, and the low weight of the broadside, was excused on the basis that the ship's primary weapon was the ram. Pallas was the first warship in the Royal Navy to be fitted with compound expansion engines, and a high performance was expected from them.

HMS Pallas was commissioned at Portsmouth, and served with the Channel Fleet until September 1870, when she was paid off for a long (and very early) refit. She served in the Mediterranean Fleet from 1872 to 1879, and was paid off. She was retained in fourth class reserve at Devonport until sold. More on HMS Pallas

Photograph of British ironclad HMS Pallas, between circa 1867 and circa 1877

Tommaso de Simone, Italian, 1805-1888, is considered to be one of the most important ship portraitists who practiced in the Italian seaport cities. The father of noted sea painter Antonio de Simone, Tomaso specialized in oils, the majority depicting warships and merchant vessels. He also created scenes of the Battles of Lissa (1867) and Alexandria (1882).

The architectural properties of Tomaso de Simone's paintings are exceptional. His hull shapes have fullness and flexibility, his rigging shows a wealth of detail. His portrait of the American continental navy frigate constellation was proven so accurate that it was used as a guide for restoration of the ship, still afloat today in Baltimore. From an artistic standpoint, his paintings are richly executed and dramatically appealing. More on Tommaso de Simone

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, and The Canals of Venice

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