Description
The story behind the hunt
The HMS Surprise, a 24-gun British frigate, is on the hunt for L’Acheron, a huge French super frigate that attacked and nearly sank her in a thick fog.
The scene is exquisitely portrayed in “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”, based on Patrick O’Brian’s sea novels. Captain Aubrey (played by Russell Crowe) chases L’Acheron to all ends of the globe.
The HMS Surprise, formally called the Rose, was originally built as a replica of an 18th century frigate. She was sold to 20th Century Fox in 2001 for the film – and then took her new name.
Director Peter Weir, demanding nothing but the best, meticulously renovated her to a 24-gun frigate specific to Great Britain’s Nelson era Royal Navy.
Coincidentally, I had a house only a few blocks from the cruise ship terminal in Ensenada where the refitting was done. I observed every detail as they added to, and also took away from, the original vessel.
The entire transom, which was seen with all the windows on the back end of the ship, was rebuilt by an experienced shipwright from the east coast.
Added to the HMS Surprise were new components to the rigging as well. The sails flying on the far right, extensions of the main yard arm spars called studding sails, gave extra push for speed in moderate wind conditions. These were typical of the era.
The elaborate infinity pools at Fox’s Baja studios in Rosarito Beach enabled the HMS Surprise to take its virtual hunt for L’Acheron through the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Brazilian coast and the Galapagos Islands. The film went on to win several academy awards and nominations.
I chronicled the renovation and filming through a series of drawings and articles which were published in Southern California’s “Santana” magazine. The collection of drawings was shown at the largest marine gallery in the nation, “J.Russel Jinishian Gallery” in Fairfield, Connecticut.
After filming, the HMS Surprise was purchased by the Maritime Museum of San Diego where she can be seen as part of the extensive tallship dockside collection.
Similar artwork
Check out Scott Kennedy’s watercolor painting “USS Constitution: Awaiting Dispatch” and also the oil painting “Windjammer: Clipper Ship”.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.