I aquired this painting from my grandad who told me a story of his grandad coming to New Zealand as a boy in !862 on a sailing ship called the William Brown which caught fire just off the Azore islands the ship was completly burned however all the passengers made it to the life boats and were then rescued by a passing Swedish ship the Hedvig Charlotta. My great great grandfarther eventually made it to New Zealand the following year.Later on in life he comissioned a well known New Zealand maritime artist Frank Barnes to paint this painting for him from his childhood memories of the sinking of the William Brown. The painting has wonderful detail and really gives you a sence of what it must have been like for the passengers however is in need of some tlc/restoration due to its hard life and lack of appreciation it is unsigned and unframed painted on a grey type of art board it measures 54cmx38cm