Rejoining the Squadron

[anteros_lmc]

The broadband repair chap has done his job admirably and I am back afloat online :) So this seems like an appropriate point to share this gorgeous picture of the Bloody Indy which my clever partner found towards the end of last year.

Comments

[elin_gregory]

Lovely painting. I've tried but doing the rigging - even with a rigger - is beyond me. Serres and his ilk must have had an absolute knowledge of their subject and incredibly steady hands.

[anteros_lmc]

That's the thing I adore about Serres. You can tell he spent time on these ships, even his sketches appear full of life and detail.

Although I must say, if your icon is one of your own endeavours then it appears you got a grip of the rigging admirably! Have you got a larger image you'd be willing to share? I'd love to see it in more detail :)

[eglantine_br]

So serene. I love the eay the light hits the sails with gold and shadows. And look at that big long pennant.

[anteros_lmc]

Isn't it gorgeous? Partner and I were wondering about the length of that pennant. It must have been huge!

There is something so realistic about Serres sketches. You can almsot imagine being there, standing on the deck. Makes me think of Horatio "Don't you want to get back, hmm? Stand on the deck of the Indy? Hear the wind in the rigging?"

[eglantine_br]

I wonder if it was the paying- off pennant. It would have reflected how long since they had been home.

In the USN it is flown on the way home. I think the RN only uses it for decomm, now. But it was more widely used in Serres day. It a lovely and moving thing to see.

[anteros_lmc]

Ooh! I've never heard of the paying-off pennant before! What a lovely tradition, thank you for mentioning it. Such a shame it seems to be dying out in the RN.

It's not clear where this scene was painted. I had presumed it was off Brest but it could be off Plymouth or Falmouth, in which case it could well be a paying-off pennant. The ship in the background seems to be flying one too.

[rikibeth]

Oh, that's lovely. What Elin said about the rigging reminds me of the toy ship I made for the kid, and how I sat there with a spool of thread and the frontispiece of Master and Commander, trying to get it RIGHT.

[anteros_lmc]

I've seen prints of most of Serres' works from the time he spent with the Inshore Squadron, but this one was new to me so I got very excited!

I had fun trying to rig a playmobil schooner one Hogmanay while I was three sheets to the wind. I got there in the end but it required much squinting ;)

[anteros_lmc]

Waaaaaant! And I'd have squandered daughter's inheritance to get it! Probably just as well it that is was safely sold before I came across it :}

[stevie_carroll]

Oh, very nice.

[anteros_lmc]

Isn't it bonny? :)