Loading Spinner

Maritime & Marine Paintings

The terms maritime and marine art are often used interchangeably. Treated rigorously, marine art is any type of painting, sculpture, or other art that has to do with the sea, and maritime art includes images of ocean-going vessels. Maritime paintings were produced mainly from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

These paintings can be rich and detailed with believable depth; or swift, painterly gestures of color conveying light and atmosphere. Many also come especially from countries with a strong relationship to the sea. Artists in the Netherlands produced many maritime paintings in the Dutch Golden Age of the 1600s. In "The Fighting Temeraire," 1839, English artist J.M.W. Turner acknowledged Britain’s weakening naval power.

Often, maritime art is included in larger sales, rather than as a stand-alone category. For example, at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, American antiques sales usually include a few works of maritime art. Similarly, the Old Masters drawings and paintings sales often include maritime works.


Quick Facts

  • Bonhams, unlike other major auction houses, holds stand-alone sales of paintings in the marine and maritime categories
  • Bonhams London sold Charles Napier Hemy, "The Crab Pots," 1904, for £120,000 on February 19, 2008
  • On April 15, 2015, the same company sold Philip John Ouless' "The Jersey trading schooner Sea Bird heading out from Gorey Harbour, Jersey, with Mont Orgueil Castle beyond," 1874, for £27,500

Recommended Items at Auction

See all items

Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Maritime scene
Mar 04, 10:00 AM EST
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Maritime scene
by DP Test House
Est: €1,400- €3,000
€7500 Bids
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Marine
Mar 04, 10:00 AM EST
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Marine
by DP Test House
Est: €1,300- €3,000
€7500 Bids
VINCENZO D'AURIA (Italy, 1872-1939) - Maritime scene
Mar 04, 10:00 AM EST
VINCENZO D'AURIA (Italy, 1872-1939) - Maritime scene
by DP Test House
Est: €2,500- €4,500
€1,8000 Bids
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Maritime scene
Apr 16, 6:30 PM EDT
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Maritime scene
by DP Test House
Est: ¥1,400- ¥3,000
¥7500 Bids
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Marine
Apr 16, 6:30 PM EDT
Eliseo Meifrén Roig (Barcelona, 1859-1940) - Marine
by DP Test House
Est: ¥1,300- ¥3,000
¥7500 Bids
VINCENZO D'AURIA (Italy, 1872-1939) - Maritime scene
Apr 16, 6:30 PM EDT
VINCENZO D'AURIA (Italy, 1872-1939) - Maritime scene
by DP Test House
Est: ¥2,500- ¥4,500
¥1,8000 Bids
19th Century French School - Maritime Landscape
Apr 16, 6:30 PM EDT
19th Century French School - Maritime Landscape
by DP Test House
Est: ¥2,500- ¥4,000
¥1,8000 Bids
Impression Sunrise
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
Impression Sunrise
by Tajan
Est: €300- €400
€2500 Bids
Impression Soleil Levant
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
Impression Soleil Levant
by Tajan
Est: €300- €400
€2500 Bids
The Raft of the Medusa
May 28, 3:30 PM CEST
The Raft of the Medusa
by Tajan
Est: €1,500- €2,000
€1,2000 Bids
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 51 x 76 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 51 x 76 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5000 Bids
After Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 67 x 113 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
After Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 67 x 113 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5000 Bids
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 49 x 58 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 49 x 58 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $800- $1,200
$4000 Bids
Edward Portielje (1861-1949), 61 x 81 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Edward Portielje (1861-1949), 61 x 81 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,800- $2,200
$9000 Bids
Albert Jurardus Van Prooijen (1834-1898), 17 x 25,5 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Albert Jurardus Van Prooijen (1834-1898), 17 x 25,5 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $600- $800
$3000 Bids
Louis Am�d�e Baudit (1870-1960), 32,5 x 46,5 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Louis Am�d�e Baudit (1870-1960), 32,5 x 46,5 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $400- $600
$2000 Bids
Modest Huys (1874/75-1932), 51 x 60 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Modest Huys (1874/75-1932), 51 x 60 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,500- $2,000
$7500 Bids
Carl Scherres (1833-1923), 77 x 119 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Carl Scherres (1833-1923), 77 x 119 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $400- $600
$2000 Bids
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 51 x 76 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 51 x 76 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5000 Bids
After Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 67 x 113 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
After Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 67 x 113 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,000- $1,500
$5000 Bids
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 49 x 58 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Fran�ois Musin (1820-1888), 49 x 58 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $800- $1,200
$4000 Bids
Edward Portielje (1861-1949), 61 x 81 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Edward Portielje (1861-1949), 61 x 81 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $1,800- $2,200
$9000 Bids
Albert Jurardus Van Prooijen (1834-1898), 17 x 25,5 cm
Feb 20, 11:00 AM EST
Albert Jurardus Van Prooijen (1834-1898), 17 x 25,5 cm
by SSA-smokehouse
Est: $600- $800
$3000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Maritime & Marine Paintings