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Maritime & Marine Paintings

The terms maritime and marine art are often used interchangeably. Treated rigorously, marine art is any type of painting, sculpture, or other art that has to do with the sea, and maritime art includes images of ocean-going vessels. Maritime paintings were produced mainly from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

These paintings can be rich and detailed with believable depth; or swift, painterly gestures of color conveying light and atmosphere. Many also come especially from countries with a strong relationship to the sea. Artists in the Netherlands produced many maritime paintings in the Dutch Golden Age of the 1600s. In "The Fighting Temeraire," 1839, English artist J.M.W. Turner acknowledged Britain’s weakening naval power.

Often, maritime art is included in larger sales, rather than as a stand-alone category. For example, at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, American antiques sales usually include a few works of maritime art. Similarly, the Old Masters drawings and paintings sales often include maritime works.


Quick Facts

  • Bonhams, unlike other major auction houses, holds stand-alone sales of paintings in the marine and maritime categories
  • Bonhams London sold Charles Napier Hemy, "The Crab Pots," 1904, for £120,000 on February 19, 2008
  • On April 15, 2015, the same company sold Philip John Ouless' "The Jersey trading schooner Sea Bird heading out from Gorey Harbour, Jersey, with Mont Orgueil Castle beyond," 1874, for £27,500

Recommended Items at Auction

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PETER DE WINT (1784-1849) River Craft Loading.
Apr 30, 1:00 AM EDT
PETER DE WINT (1784-1849) River Craft Loading.
by Swann Auction Galleries
Est: $1,500- $2,500
$1,1000 Bids
Impression Sunrise
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
Impression Sunrise
by Tajan
Est: €300- €400
€2500 Bids
Impression Soleil Levant
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
Impression Soleil Levant
by Tajan
Est: €300- €400
€2500 Bids
The Raft of the Medusa
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Raft of the Medusa
by Tajan
Est: €1,500- €2,000
€1,2000 Bids
19th Century Spanish School - Nautical scene
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
19th Century Spanish School - Nautical scene
by DP Test House
Est: £3,000- £6,000
£1,0000 Bids
19th Century Dutch School - Marina
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
19th Century Dutch School - Marina
by DP Test House
Est: £1,600- £3,000
£8000 Bids
Spanish School of the 20th Century - View of Venice
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 20th Century - View of Venice
by DP Test House
Est: £1,200- £3,000
£6000 Bids
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Port Scene, Signed J.Roman
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Spanish School of the 19th Century - Port Scene, Signed J.Roman
by DP Test House
Est: £1,200- £2,400
£6000 Bids
Mortimer Wilson (American, AZ, 1906 - 1996)
Oct 01, 1:15 PM EDT
Mortimer Wilson (American, AZ, 1906 - 1996)
by Asté Maison de ventes
Est: $5,000- $7,000
$2,5000 Bids
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Maritime scene
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Maritime scene
by DP Test House
Est: £1,400- £3,000
£7000 Bids
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Marine
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Marine
by DP Test House
Est: £1,300- £3,000
£7000 Bids
VINCENZO D'AURIA (Italy, 1872-1939) - Maritime scene
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
VINCENZO D'AURIA (Italy, 1872-1939) - Maritime scene
by DP Test House
Est: £2,500- £4,500
£1,0000 Bids
19th Century French School - Maritime Landscape
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
19th Century French School - Maritime Landscape
by DP Test House
Est: £2,500- £4,000
£1,0000 Bids
GUILLERMO GOMEZ GIL (Malaga, 1862 - Cadiz, 1942) - Navy
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
GUILLERMO GOMEZ GIL (Malaga, 1862 - Cadiz, 1942) - Navy
by DP Test House
Est: £1,400- £3,000
£8000 Bids
Genoese School of the 18th century - Pair of port scenes with shipwrecks
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Genoese School of the 18th century - Pair of port scenes with shipwrecks
by DP Test House
Est: £70,000- £90,000
£55,0000 Bids
Following models by Adrien Manglard (Lyon, 1695 - Rome, 1760) - Maritime Scene, 18th century
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Following models by Adrien Manglard (Lyon, 1695 - Rome, 1760) - Maritime Scene, 18th century
by DP Test House
Est: £3,000- £6,000
£1,0000 Bids
18th Century Italian School - Shipwreck Rescue Scene
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
18th Century Italian School - Shipwreck Rescue Scene
by DP Test House
Est: £6,000- £10,000
£3,0000 Bids
Jose Gartner de la Peña (c. 1866-1918) - Navy
Apr 30, 5:30 PM EDT
Jose Gartner de la Peña (c. 1866-1918) - Navy
by DP Test House
Est: £9,000- £15,000
£4,0000 Bids
TH. ULRICHSEN (1905-1970) - HARBOR PAINTING O/C
May 03, 7:45 PM EDT
TH. ULRICHSEN (1905-1970) - HARBOR PAINTING O/C
by Asté Maison de ventes
Est: $50- $10,000
$500 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Maritime & Marine Paintings


Tajan

Tajan

Asté Maison de ventes

Asté Maison de ventes

Eldred's

Eldred's