"Het Klipperschip. Metalenkruis. Kapt. J.P. Zuurdeeg. 1857".

Drawing, 34,7 x 51,7 cm, pen and grey ink, grey wash, a few details in watercolour and white gouache, wove paper, signed and dated "J. Spin 1856", titled on a pasted strip (delicately toned, presumably due to a former passe-partout, sm. defects).

Fine depiction of the cargo ship and clipper frigate "Metalen Kruis" from the Amsterdam ship builder Arie van der Hoog, which sailed under the Dutch flag for 6 years, between 1856 and 1862, and also carried passengers to Batavia and Samarang. The ship, once sold to Belgium, was renamed the "Jeanne de Flandre", sailing under Captain Jansen until it disappeared in 1871. The artist, J. Spin (1806-1875) is said to be an old sailor who was commissioned by captains to record their ships on paper. The lithographs by Charles Binger (1830-1916) or August Allebé (1838-1927) may have been engraved after his original, although their refined elaboration suggests otherwise.
Ref. Wekelijksch handels-overzigt, 14 July 1862. - Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 4 February 1870. - Scheepshistorie 22, pp. 16-19. - FMH 7254.