Bruce Von Stetina's Maritime Paintings and Battle Scenes

Bruce Von Stetina, ASMA, ISMP

Bruce Von Stetina is known for his historically accurate maritime oil paintings from the clipper ship era as well as naval battle scenes. His portfolio includes paintings of various clippers, a 4' X 6' scene of the Battle of 1666 from the Second Anglo-Dutch War and a 4' X 6' oil depicting the battle between the USS Constitution and HMS Java. Scroll down the page to see the painting Bruce is currently working on, a 4' X 5' oil of the Battle of Solebay.

For information regarding purchasing a painting, licensing an image or commissioning a new piece, contact Bruce at vsart@tampabay.rr.com . Dealer inquiries welcome.

The Second Day of the Four Day Battle of 1666

Scene from the Second Anglo-Dutch War

copyright Bruce Von Stetina

Another Victory for Old Ironsides

Battle between USS Constitution and HMS Java

4' X 6' Oil

copyright Bruce Von Stetina

I researched this painting by reviewing the battle chart, ship’s plans, weather conditions and other information pertinent to the battle. I chose a particular place on the battle chart that coincided with an exciting part of the battle and placed my ships for the scene accordingly. To better visualize the scene, I assembled a model kit of the USS Constitution and used a second frigate model of the same scale to stand in for the HMS Java. These models were posed in a sandbox with appropriate parts damaged and scale figures posed on the bows, centers and sterns by which to scale my crews.

The painting was done in oils on a prepared masonite board and took roughly 3 months to complete. Another Victory for Old Ironsides was purchased in 1983 for display near the USS Constitution in Charlestown, MA.

The Battle of Solebay

copyright Bruce Von Stetina

The battle of Solebay was fought on May 28, 1672. It was the first battle in the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The French were allied with the English, but on this day the French slipped away and left the English alone to face the Dutch navy.

The central ship in this painting is the 100 gun Royal James, flag ship of the Earl of Sandwich. At the Battle of Solebay the ship was one year old. The ship heading into the painting on the left had been stuck for a time under the bowsprit of the Royal James, leaving the Royal James vulnerable to raking. As the wind dropped the Dutch sent fire ships, one is seen against the right side of the Royal James.

The painting captures the moment that the Earl of Sandwich left the Royal James in the ship’s boat, intending to bring his flag to another ship. Some of the crew panicked and jumped from the burning ship, swamping the boat. The Earl drowned and was later identified by his clothing. The remainder of the crew stayed aboard to fight on, but despite their efforts the Royal James burned to the waterline.

The End of the Rainbow

copyright Bruce Von Stetina

Dreams of Past and Future

23 1/2" x 35 1/2", Oil

price on request

The old sailor on the wharf looks back on his life at sea questing after the whale. The loss of his leg has kept him ashore and he dreams of the strength of his youth. No longer able to sail the seas, his dreams are passed to the grandson he holds by the hand. The child in turn holds tight his own dreams of the future in the form of the toy boat resting in his arm. The faithful dog he will have to leave ashore represents the leaving of home and passage into manhood.

24" x 30" oil of the Grand Banks fishing schooner, the Bluenose.

First Place winner, 2007 Veterans Art Competition, Bay Pines, Florida.

As with all of Bruce Von Stetina's maritime work, Heading Out is based on actual body and sail plans. The deck layout is based on written descriptions and similar plans for these schooners.

In 1921 the Bluenose, a salt banker designed by W.J. Rové of Halifax, succeeded in lifting the Atlantic Seaboard Championship trophy (a series of 40 mile races) from the schooner Elsie" of Gloucester. In 1922 she won again against the Ford, in 1923 her contest with the Columbia was marred by protests and hard feelings on each side. "No Race" was declared.

22" x 34" oil of the clipper ship Lightning in harbor.

The famous extreme clipper ship Lightning, built by John McKay in 1854, is in harbor readying for a voyage that will set one of her record-breaking passages. Her talisman for speed, a beautiful woman holding a lightning bolt in her outstretched hand, needs a touch-up, and Captain Bully Forbes has hired the best painter he could find. He and the ship’s owner, James Baines, Want even the smallest details to be perfect.

In one 24 hour period Lightning with do 436 miles, averaging 18 to 181/2 knots. Her interior is ready for first class passengers with an 86 foot long salon decorated with marble, mirror and gilding. Plush velvet covers the furniture below the stained glass skylights. An exciting and luxurious voyage is in the making aboard this proud American masterpiece.

The Artist, Bruce Von Stetina has made this painting autobiographical in several ways. Bruce first used himself as the model for the artist touching up the paintwork, the type of job he actually did as a young artist in local marinas. The old salt watching from the deck of the Lightning represents Bruce’s current knowledge, and he is making sure the young artist is getting the job done right. He is kept company by the ship’s cat. In the bottom right Bruce also depicts himself as a teenager fishing with his dog from a rowboat, an activity he engaged in as often as possible while growing up along the Mohawk River in Upstate New York.

This oil painting was done using William L. Crothers plans of the ship and his list of other available research.