ARCHIVE MARINE OFFERS


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32.              ARPE, ANGELO  1883         

A hurricane hits the "Industry" at 500 miles from Ireland

Watercolor on paper, cm 56x75,5 (inv. Costa n. 69)

 Signed:    Dip. Arpe Angelo Genova

Known data:

   TYPE:                                             pole brig
   YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION:    1873
   PLACE OF CONSTRUCTION:   Prà
   SHIPOWNER:                               Fortunato Schiaffíno
   CAPTAIN:                                      Fortunato Schiaffíno

Caption:

   "Hurricane Suffered by the Bark named Industry; on 6th February 1883 onward to S.W., 500 miles from Ireland. The Capt.n Fortunato Schiaffino donates the present to Holy Maria of the Boschetto, thankful for the received consideration".

Notes:

The incredible force with which the hurricane hit the bark "Industry" yield that day unforgettable for all the members of the crew, that not only demonstrated their gratefulness for the salvation with this offer by the captain, but with another painting, offered to the Madonna of Montallegro by the board cook Felice Benvenuto  (E. Carta, U. Ricci, F.M. Ruffini, Sacred Rapallo minor. Marine Ex-Voto of the Sanctuary of O.L. of Montallegro, Genoa 1980, table 48). 

This  painting, unsigned but accredited at the production of the Canetta, has explicative writing that give an idea of the panic of the moment: "... the furious  wind pulled out the sails and various ropes and the riggings of the main mast, carrying out all that that was liying on deck. The crew prayed Holy Mary that saved them from great danger and in fact obtained it but with the loss of a man; therefore the cook donates the present." 

The elements supplied by the customers to the two painters must have been the same, the narration coinciding exactly with the evenements: the man fallen into the sea that will not be saved in spite of the sloop, the thrown objects from the deck, the waves that covers the ship. Interesting the possibility of comparison between the two authors in order to better pick the different personalities of the two painters. 

In the Marine Museum of Camogli exists a portrait of the "Industria" executed with applications on embroided canvas with sails made of silk in relief, work by Thomas Willies of Brooklyn (cfr. Shipsails of Camogli, Genoa 1984, p.11).

You can see the "Industria" clicking on the link: Antichi Velieri N° 01.

 
BIBLIOGRAPHY: G. B. Ferrari, The ex- voto of the Sanctuary of Boschetto – Ship "Industria" in "The Madonna of Boschetto" 1937 (5-6), pp. 21-23).