The Clipper Brig "Lanrick" Off Singapore - Dutton c. 1850s

The Clipper Brig "Lanrick" Off Singapore
Artist: Thomas Goldsworthy Dutton (1819–1891)
Lithographer: Day & Son
Publisher: William Foster, London
Year: c. 1850s
Medium: Original tinted lithograph with hand-colouring.
Condition: Excellent 19th-century maritime print; professionally framed.

A Rare Record of the Opium Trade & Singapore's Maritime History
This spectacular mid-19th-century lithograph is a premier piece of maritime art by the legendary T.G. Dutton, the most prolific and celebrated marine lithographer of the Victorian era. It depicts the clipper brig "Lanrick"—one of the fastest and most famous "opium clippers" of its time—sailing in the waters off Singapore.

The Jardine Matheson Connection
For the collector of Singaporean or corporate history, this print holds immense significance:

• The Vessel: Built in 1835 and owned by the global trading giant Jardine Matheson, the Lanrick was a specialized vessel designed for the high-stakes trade of opium, tea, and cotton between India, Singapore, and China.
• The Dedication: The print features a formal dedication to Andrew Jardine, Esq. of Lanrick Castle, a central figure in the founding of the Jardine Matheson empire.
• Strategic Detail: The scene captures the Lanrick under the command of Thomas B. White, showcasing the ship’s reefed sails and sleek hull—features that allowed it to outrun both pirates and competitors in the South China Sea.

Artistic Merit
Dutton was renowned for his technical accuracy, and this plate is no exception. It captures the play of light on the waves and the intricate rigging of the brig with a precision that made his work the gold standard for 19th-century naval documentation. Original tinted lithographs of this quality are rare, as many were lost to time or damaged in colonial climates.