Tim Thompson
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J. RUSSELL JINISHIAN GALLERY The Nation’s Leading Gallery Specializing in Fine Marine and Sporting Art Since 1997 A Selection of Original Paintings from Master Marine Artist TIM THOMPSON USS Constitution Preparing to Engage HMS Java, December 18, 1812 The light that appears to emanate from a painting by English Marine Art Master Tim Thompson is so realistic in feeling that it can literally take your breath away. These exquisite paintings seem to dominate almost any room they’re in. There’s good reason why he’s considered one of the undisputed leaders of today’s generation of Marine artists. Utilizing traditional oil techniques he places layer upon layer of translucent wash on canvas, to produce a luminosity which is rarely seen in contemporary marine paintings. Displaying an elegance and sophistication reminiscent of works by the 19th century masters of marine art, his works are widely collected by marine art connoisseurs around the world. Tim’s work is in the collections of many British, American and European Captains of Industry including Ted Turner, and William Koch. His book on the America’s Cup has a foreword by Ted Turner. He was commissioned by the Royal Navy and his largest individual work still hangs at HMS Drake. He has produced work for European Royalty and HRH Prince Charles and Diana, the Princess of Wales attended his America’s Cup Exhibition in London. More recently he was commissioned to paint the Official Portrait of the King of Sweden, Karl Gustaf. He utilizes the first-hand experience of the sea with thorough research into the wind and wave conditions of the past to recreate yachting history with unparalleled life-likeness and vitality. His work has also been celebrated in three books, "The Winning Moment," a pictured history of the America’s Cup, containing every America’s Cup Race since 1851, "The Story of Yachting, and "Gold Medal Rescues," depicting twenty of the most heroic rescues by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, commended by Queen Elizabeth. Here is a sampling of eight outstanding examples of Tim Thompson paintings for you to review. You can also regularly review new works on our website, just go to "New Works" on the Home page: New Art at the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss any of the Artwork at 860-245-4400. ~ Russell All paintings shown below are framed and available for purchase, dimensions shown are unframed, add approximately 6" to 8" for framed dimensions. America’s Cup, 1964, Constellation vs. Sovereign ~ The 19th America's Cup Race was held in September 1964 at Newport, Rhode Island. The New York Yacht Club defender 12 metre Constellation was an Olin Stephens' design built by Minneford Yacht Yard. As an improvement over previous defender Columbia she was designed to be more lightweight and fitted out with titanium mast tip, boom and wind drums. She had a long waterline and short keel. These changes proved to be very successful for skipper Bob Bavier, who defeated the Royal Thames Yacht Club challenger, Sovereign, skippered by Paul Anderson, four races to zero - Winning one race by an astonishing 20 minutes and 20 seconds. In Thompson's dramatic painting of the downwind leg of Race #2, in the seas off Newport, RI, the black hulled Sovereign is seen taking green water amidships as she strains to catch Constellation through the leftover swells of a passing hurricane. Oil on Canvas 18" x 24" $25,000 America’s Cup, 1937 - Ranger vs. Endeavour II ~ What's not to like about this stunning depiction of the Ranger (J5) and Endeavour II (JK6) on the downwind leg of their 1937 battle for the Cup? The true majesty of these magnificent J-Boats is in evidence here as light from the full sails seems to glow from the painting. While Endeavour II proved no match for the Olin Stephens/Sterling Burgess-designed Ranger, the 1937 Cup Regatta also marked the end of the J-Boat Era. The next Cup Series in 1958 would pit a new class of 12 metres against one another. But for many the magnificent J-Boats had no parallel for engineering prowess and sheer beauty on the water. Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" $65,000 Schooners Off Egypt Point, Solent, 19th Century ~ Egypt Point is the northernmost point of the island county of the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. Egypt Point derives its name from a nearby gypsy encampment from the 16th century. Oil on Wood Panel 10" x 12" $12,500 34th America’s Cup Oracle Team, USA vs. Emirates Team, New Zealand, 2013 ~ Tim Thompson re-created every America's Cup Race from 1851- 2000 for his classic book "The Winning Moment." Today he's continued to paint every America's Cup Regatta - here capturing the drama of today's high speed foiling. In August 2013, the 34th America's Cup was held with San Francisco's landmark Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. This regatta showcased Larry Ellison's Oracle representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club against New Zealand's Team Emirates. These yachts represented the fastest racing sailboats ever built, at 72 feet long and a rig height equal to the height of a thirteen story building. They used foiling technology and a carbon fiber sail to exceed the speed of the wind, were capable of speeds up to 55 miles per hour. No wonder each of the 11 man crew wore crash helmets and safety vests. Skippered by Australian Jimmy Spithill, Oracle lost 6 of the first 7 races, then placing just 4 races away from winning the Cup. The key difference was Team New Zealand's ability to "foil" upwind which Oracle had not mastered. As we can see from Thompson's painting Spithill and crew went back to the drawing board after Race 7, and then came out foiling with a win in Race 5. From then on one of the greatest comebacks in yacht racing history took place over the next 7 races as Oracle came from behind to defend the Cup in dramatic fashion. Thompson's painting captures the fantastic action of these modern day speed yachts. Oil on Canvas 22" x 30" $28,000 64-Gun First Rate Swedish War Ship Wasa, 1628 ~ Wasa (aka Vasa) was a beautifully decorated ship, covered in wooden carvings that told stories about the Swedish royal family, and the king, Gustav II Adolf. Built between 1626 and 1628, the ship carried an unprecedented 64 bronze cannons. It was the king who ordered the ship, and who watched in horror as it foundered and sunk after sailing only 1,400 yards on its maiden voyage on August 10, 1628. She was forgotten after most of her valuable bronze cannons were salvaged in the 17th century until she was located again in the late 1950's in a busy shipping lane just outside the Stockholm harbor. Salvaged with a largely intact hull in 1961, it was housed in a temporary museum called Wasavarvet ('The Wasa Shipyard') until 1988 and then moved permanently to the Vasa Museum in the Royal National City Park in Stockholm, where she is on display today. Oil on Canvas 12" x 16" $6,000 USS Constitution Preparing to Engage HMS Java in the Distance, December 18, 1812 ~ On December 1812 the USS Constitution was sailing in the Atlantic, off the coast of Brazil, when she sighted sails on the horizon. The ship proved to be the HMS Java, a 46-Gun Frigate of the Royal Navy. After much maneuvering the ships closed in enough to fire at each other, and in a two hour battle Constitution proved superior to Java which was so damaged that she was burned at sea on New Year's Eve Day, 1813. After this battle the Royal Navy instructed its fleet not to engage one on one with the superior American frigates. Thompson's painting shows Constitution underway with Java just visible in the distance on the right of the painting. Let the Battle begin! Oil on Canvas 30" x 40" $75,000 Confederate Raider Alabama Battles USS Kearsarge Off Cherbourg, France, June 12, 1864 ~ The Civil War was not just fought on land, but in costly battles on the sea. The South fielded a fleet of ships- the Confederate Raiders - whose mission was to disrupt Union shipping and the supplies. Most infamous among these raiders was USS Alabama who over a two year span from 1862 to 1864, captured 65 Union ships keeping four for their cargo, and burning the rest at sea. Under the command of Raphael Semmes, Alabama eluded pursuit by sailing down the East Coast of Brazil, then onto Capetown, South Africa, into the South China Sea, to India, Madagascar, and back into the Atlantic on his way, to Cherbourgh, France, where sympathetic shipyards would refit Confederate ships. Enter the Union Naval vessel, the USS Kearsage, under the command of John A. Winslow. She was more powerful than the Alabama, yet Semmes decided to come out and fight her anyway. On June 19, 1864 an epic battle ensued. The results can be seen in Thompson's dramatic painting as the Alabama is taking on water and sinking by the stern. Interestingly because the Alabama had been built in Liverpool, England originally for the Turkish Navy, after the war the United States filed suit against Great Britain in the International Courts and was awarded $15.5 million in damages. Oil on Canvas 16" x 30" $24,500 J-Boat Yankee and Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert III Off the Needles, Isle of Wight, 1935 ~ In 1935 the J-Boat Yankee sailed across the pond to test its mettle against the British J-Fleet, the results were mixed.