Donald McKay built the famous clipper FLYING CLOUD in East Boston in 1851. She was probably his finest. Her figurehead was an angel holding a trumpet to her mouth. She was immediately put in the China Trade until 1861 when she was sold to the British.
FLYING CLOUD sailed from New York on her maiden voyage June 2, 1851, and 81 days later she arrived in San francisco. She departed San Francisco on October 20, passed Honolulu November 6, and arrived in Hong Kong 45 days later on December 5, 1851.
Her fourth voyage in 1854 from San Francisco to Hong Kong took only 37 days. This painting celebrates this record voyage and shows her entering Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong in late afternoon sun. The Marryat Code flags on her mizzenmast spell out her name to announce her arrival.
To the left of the painting is another American ship at anchor, the brig PORPOISE. In Hong Kong harbor at this time, was part of Commodore Perry’s fleet. The PORPOISE was in in Hong Kong at this time being refitted before a cruise in the Pearl River estuary to suppress piracy. In early July she rescued 520 Chinese from a shipwreck on the Pratus Shoal. In October she went missing with all hands in a typhoon south of Formosa.
Image Size: 23" x 29.5" ; unf...$1000.00
