Votive Paintings by Seamen of Camogli | DUE FRATELLI | brig | Angelo Arpe 1889

35. ARPE, ANGELO 1889

The brig "Due Fratelli" saved from a hurricane
despite the broken rudder

Watercolor on paper, cm 54x7.5 (inventory Costa n. 79)

Signed: Dip. Arpe Angelo - Genova

TYPE: brig

YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: 1860

PLACE OF CONSTRUCTION: Chiavari

SHIPOWNER: Fratelli Mortola

CAPTAIN: Lorenzo Castello

"Hurricane suffered on the 4th day of February 1889 by the Brick Due Fratelli, Italian, Capt. Lorenzo Castello, being near the Cape Corso; the rudder was broken off and the ship, close to Cape S. Andrea, drag along by the hurricane without being able to govern it; and for the grace of Our Lady of Boschetto and with the courage of a good Crew it was then succeeded to govern and to preserve it in port to salvage".

The wind that inexorably pushes a ship against the seacoast was a sweeping force that became indomitable especially when, like in this matter, with the damaged rudder.

Then much depended on the experience and the ability of its commander and crew able to improvise, with courage and incredible control of the situation, also with repairs under sail: in those desperate moments an unexpected, providential change of wind could appear a miraculous divine aid.

Then it was unavoidable a gratefulness motion towards who was invoked in aid and especially if in the area were constructed Sanctuaries visible from the sea, to these the sailors addressed their own reconnaissance: that appears evidently in our painting, with the representation of some churches on that land against which the brick "Due Fratelli" seems to crash.

In the Maritime Museum of Camogli (cfr. Shipsails of Camogli, Genoa 1984, p. 34) is conserved a painting that represents the same brig painted by Domenico Gavarrone in the 1860 soon after the construction.