File:Ships Through the Ages (14).jpg

English: BPLDC no.: 09_03_000068

Subtitle: Great Carrack; Spanish caravel; Galleass

Creator: King, Frederic Leonard (American painter and illustrator, 1879-1947)

Date created: 1934-1935

General format: oil on canvas

BPL Department: Special Collections, East Boston Branch Library

Dimensions: visible image 22 ½ x 110 ½ in., framed 25 ½ x 113 ½ in.

Description: (left to right)

Great Carrack The word "carrack" was in common usage in every European language during this period. The Portuguese, who seem to have been the originators of this type of 16th century vessel, spelled it "carracca," which comes nearest to its original meaning - a ship that could carry heavy burdens or a treasure ship. Vasco da Gama commanded a fleet of carracks in his expedition eastward in search of me East Indies.

Spanish caravel Both the ships used by Columbus, the Nina and the Pinta, were originally 15th century caravels bearing three tiny masts with lateen sails. They were in reality small fishing smacks that would never have been able to stand the long trip between Spain and the West Indies had it not been for the help of the Gulf Stream and the west wind drive.

Galleass The 16th century galleass was developed from the large merchant galley, was higher and larger than the latter and had up to 32 oars, each worked by five men. It usually had three masts, a forecastle and aftcastle. The galleass usually carried more sails than a true galley, and it exemplified an intermediate vessel type between the galley and the true man-of-war.

Notes: The description above was written in 1935. Ships Through the Ages, originally four murals painted by Frederic Leonard King between 1934 and 1935, was commissioned as part of the Public Works Art Project for the Jeffries Point Branch of the Boston Public Library. In 1956, the Jeffries Point Branch closed, and each mural was divided into multiple paintings and relocated to the East Boston Branch Library where they are currently on display; however, several sections of the murals are missing.