Cheng Ho Treasure Boat

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What could possibly capture the imagination more than an ancient fleet of massive treasure ships laden with gold, precious gems and religious artefacts? How about an epic naval battle between the Chinese and local forces off the coast of Sri Lanka more than 600 years ago that may have sunk this treasure to the bottom of the Indian Ocean?

According to the history books, the vessel (or vessels – no one knows for sure exactly how many ships might have sunk) was part of Chinese admiral Zheng He’s fleet, one of the greatest maritime adventurers of all time. But while stories of his exploits abound in Chinese texts, no hard evidence has ever been found to prove the existence of his ships. That, however, could be about to change, as researchers are set to embark on an archaeological expedition that they believe could not only settle a centuries-old debate, but also yield a hoard of lost Ming dynasty (1368-1644) treasure.

Cheng Ho Treasure Boat is an 30x40" acrylic and ink painting on a 1" thick canvas, and does not come framed.

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Nautical art has been a long established motif which for many was used to convey the beauty of their surroundings or the dramatic hardships of a sailor’s life. In my current series, I'm attempting to evoke the romantic gesture of transition, a theme found commonly thread through so many nautical compositions, almost creating a dreamlike state. To help accentuate this abstract upheaval often felt during transit, I've taken inspiration from J. M.W. Turner to develop my gestural painting style, while grounding the seascapes, by adding detailed illustrations of ships from both historical and fictional seafaring tales.