A frigate clawing off a rocky coast<br><p>A dramatic painting showing a frigate off a rocky coast, in the act of ‘clawing’. This occurred when a sailing ship tried to avoid being driven on to a ‘lee’ shore in rough seas because of a combination of a rough sea and a strong onshore wind. 
</p><p>The Scandinavian vessel is shown struggling perilously close to a rocky shore, probably off the coast of Norway. She is being watched by a small fishing vessel on the left of the picture. A lighthouse is visible on the headland with mountains rising up beyond. 
</p><p>This Danish artist exhibited marine paintings at the Royal Academy between 1853 and 1867. The painting is signed ‘W Melby 1858’.<br></p>
A frigate clawing off a rocky coast
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Vilhelm_Melbye" class="extiw" title="w:en:Vilhelm Melbye"><span title="Danish artist (1824-1882)">Vilhelm Melbye</span></a>
</bdi>
1858<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1858-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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