Lot 91: William Geoffrey Hunt (British, b. 1948)

William Geoffrey Hunt (British, b. 1948)
The Clippership Great Republic in New York harbor
signed 'Geoff Hunt.' (lower left) and dated '1989' (lower right)
oil on canvas
20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm.)
Painted in 1989.

The Property of a Private Florida Collector

The Clipper ship Great Republic was built in 1853 by Donald McKay at his yard in east Boston. She was designed and built by Mr. McKay at his own risk, and from the moment her keel was laid both the American and British press kept readers informed of her progress, while making predictions of her success or failure. The Great Republic, which had four masts, was the largest merchant sailing ship ever constructed in the Unites States. The launch of the Great Republic was on October 4, 1853, in the presence of the largest number of people ever attending an event of its kind in the country. When the Great Republic was sent to New York to load for Liverpool, a great fire broke out in the city. The strong winds carried blazing cinders to the wharf where she lay, causing the vessel to catch on fire. Unfortunately her career was ended before she could show what she could do. The wreck of the Great Republic was purchased by A. A. Low & Brother and rebuilt by Sneeden & Whitlock, but at a reduced sail plan. After a career that proved to builder Donald McKay that the original ship would have beaten anything afloat, she was abandoned on March 5, 1872 during a storm off Bermuda in which she began to leak alarmingly.