Tea clipper ‘Taeping’ closing on ‘Ariel’ by Henry Scott FRSA

Tea clipper ‘Taeping’ closing on ‘Ariel’ by Henry Scott FRSA, oil on canvas showing the two clippers racing home with their cargoes in the Great Tea Race of 1866, Ariel in the lead sailing away to the left while Taeping tries to overtake on her starboard side, signed Henry Scott.  English

Provenance: MacConnal-Mason, London

Henry Scott (1911-2005) was a British marine artist noted for his ships’ portraits and coastal subjects.  He executed several paintings of British and American clippers for wealthy patrons.  In 1970 Scott was commissioned to paint ‘Morning Cloud’ which was skippered and owned by the then Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Edward Heath, P.C., M.B.E., M.P.  He exhibited at the Society of Marine Artists; The Royal Exchange, London; The Guildhall, London and The Royal Academy.  Abroad he staged shows at the St. Malo Museum, France and Madison Square, New York.  He was honoured as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and awarded an honorary life membership of the International Association of Master Mariners.

Ariel proved one of the fastest and most famous of all the magnificent tea clippers of the 1860s.  Built at Greenock by Robert Steele in 1865, Ariel was capable of a remarkable 16 knots in optimum conditions and made her name for speed from the start of her epic run home in 1866.  Taeping was another of Robert Steele’s creations, built for Alexander Rodger of Glasgow in 1863, she too was a flyer and was first home with the new season’s tea on three occasions.  In 1866 the 99 day, 14,000 mile race concluded with the lead changing constantly as Ariel and Taeping raced neck and neck up the English Channel.  They finally docked in London with Taeping 28 minutes ahead of Ariel and the third finisher, Serica, 75 minutes behind her.