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Oil on canvas, 44.5cm x 58cm
This dramatic view of the paddle steamer President shows the vessel on her last voyage from New York to Liverpool in March 1841, when she was lost without trace. The painting shows her being hit by a huge wave and with a broken bowsprit, yet figures can still be seen on the deck. The painting has been trimmed at some stage, altering the composition.
Whether this painting represents an authentic encounter is open to question. According to contemporary sources Captain Cole of the Orpheus last saw President on 12 March. No specific reference to the Pearl has been found.
President was built for the British and American Steam Navigation Company. She was one of the largest and most spectacular of the day, attracting admiring crowds wherever she went. Along with her sister ships, she allowed the British and American Steam Navigation Company to start the first regular service across the Atlantic. However, the company was dogged by bad luck, which culminated in liquidation following the loss of the President.