The Barquetine Gazela, off Lisbon

Seago painted several views of Lisbon, the Cais das Colunas and various maritime scenes such as the present work. A Barquentine is a vessel resembling a barque but square-rigged on the foremast only. Until the mid-19th century, barques were relatively small sailing ships, but later were built up to about 3,000 tonnes, particularly for the grain and nitrate trade to South American ports round Cape Horn. Barques are now obsolete as trading vessels but many have been preserved as museum ships and examples of the great days of sail.