Sail-making on Board HMS Essex by Stanhope Forbes. A group of women in naval uniforms and sailors are shown sewing large sails in a wooden ship interior illuminated by portholes.

Sail-making on Board HMS Essex

Stanhope Forbes

1918 · Oil Paint, Canvas

This evocative 1918 oil painting captures members of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and sailors diligently working on sail-making aboard the HMS Essex.

$169

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6 frame sizes

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Where it works

A weightier piece with steady character in a warmer tonal register — holds a formal wall with confidence.

Often works in
Study · Library · Living Room
Placement
Works well when the wall can carry a broader statement
Walls
Reads strongest on light or mid-tone walls
Color notes
Charcoal black, Deep burgundy, Rich brown

About the piece

Painted in 1918 by Stanhope Forbes, a leading figure of the Newlyn School, this masterful oil composition depicts women of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) working alongside sailors on the HMS Essex. The interior of the ship is rendered with a warm, atmospheric palette, highlighted by the cool, dramatic light streaming through portholes, showcasing the artist's signature social realism and technical brilliance.

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