Italian Pierhead Painter - Ship Portrait of the three-masted Schooner *INA* at sea, painted ca. 1900 - the vessel is shown under reduced sails in a choppy sea - inscribed lower right "M.S. INA" - Gouache on paper 38 by 53,5 cm (15 by 21 inch) - frame is old but regilted in the mid 20th C. - picture is in good condition (minor usual wear - ready to hang on the wall), no restoration visible, reflections from glass on the photo - Private Collection, Germany

Note: Three-masted Schooners of this type was mainly built and used in New England, Maritime Canada, in Scandinavia and The Netherlands. As this portrait proves these Schooners were also used for longer trips. The rigging was more easy to handle than with a square rigger and helped to save costs and crew, which was important due to the competition with the steamers.