The Great Age of Sail
The design for this painting was inspired by Ozanne, one of the greatest marine artists of the 18th century. It is a painting of a splendid morning in a busy port as it might have appeared around 1760. On a day such as this, the water might have looked calm and silvery, as the ships stood fully-rigged, ready to sail. Just beyond, the sea would beckon, promising adventure and romance. One by one, each ship in turn would answer her call. One by one, each would set sail for distant ports, leaving the peace and shelter of the harbor behind. - Peter Ellenshaw