Nautical Art - Seascape ASANTE

Antique 19th Century Painting - Oil on Canvas

Just Acquired - Coming Soon   

Portrait of the Danish Ship "Asante"
19th Century
Other ships in the distance.

Besides vintage posters and historical photography, our other passion is Nautical Fine Art of visually stunning vintage ships at sea.    

One of the most visually arresting seascape paintings we've come across in years.   

A commanding 19th-century seascape where light and shadow ignite the canvas with theatrical brilliance.  This oil-on-canvas gem melds classical technique with evocative ambiance, drawing the viewer deep into its waters.

With a remarkable history and story to go with it! 

Size: Oil on canvas, 20" x 24". Framed 21.5" x 25.5".

Condition Report:  Relined.

This stunning 18th/19th century seascape was first thought to be the French Ship ASANTE. However, when I started researching, the results kept coming up, no French ship named Asante.   I then noticed the flag, and that although very similar to French, is actually the Netherlands.  The colors and three rows are exactly the same except on the French flag colors are Vertical, whereas the Netherlands is horizontal as depicted in this painting.   Then my curiosity about the second flag the “Red Cross” took over which lead me to a Danish connection.    The story behind this breath-taking beauty became equally captivating and I found myself immersed with this historic oceanic  transportation vessel from 225 years ago    

Further research resulted in the following.    

There is no known 19th-century French ship named Asante. However, there was a Danish vessel named Kongen af Assianthe (translated as "King of Asante"), launched in 1797. This ship was actively involved in the transatlantic slave trade, completing three voyages between 1797 and 1803, transporting enslaved Africans from the Gold Coast to the Danish West Indies, particularly St. Croix. Following Denmark's abolition of its participation in the transatlantic slave trade, which took effect on January 1, 1803, the ship was sold to a Norwegian shipping company. During the Gunboat War, the British Royal Navy captured the vessel on August 31, 1807, referring to it as the "King of Assianthe" .
While the Netherlands maintained extensive trade relations with the Asante Kingdom during the 19th century, including diplomatic missions and military recruitment, there is no record of a Dutch ship named "Asante" from that period. The Dutch did, however, recruit soldiers from the Asante region, known as the "Belanda Hitam" or "Black Dutchmen," who served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army .