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Liverpool museums - 'The snow 'Betty' off Harrington' by Henry Collins (1782 - 1824)

Oil on canvas, 68.2cm x 100cm

This very detailed picture is an excellent representation of a snow at close quarters. It shows the 'Betty' in two positions off the entrance to Harrington harbour.

The main view shows the vessel leaving harbour with all her sails set, including jibs and staysails. It is unlikely she would use so much sail in this situation and the artist is taking a certain amount of licence to show the vessel's full sail plan fully hoisted. He has also chosen a view so that the details of the rigging are visible rather than being largely hidden by the sails themselves. This allows a very clear illustration of the small trysail mast abaft the main mast which is the feature that distinguishes a snow from a brig.

In the left distance is a second port quarter view of the vessel exhibiting a more likely sail arrangements for the situation. Both main courses are furled, the trysail is scandalised (dropped) and the vessel is relying on her topsails and royals and one jib sail.

Although the vessel is recognisable as 'Betty' from the name pennant on her foremast, the name was so common in the early nineteenth century that a precise identification is not possible. She flies a red ensign of the post-1801 design at her stern.

Collins was highly regarded as a marine painter in his lifetime though only about a dozen works by him are currently known. Several of these feature ships in the Mersey indicating that he was a regular visitor to Liverpool.