Bruce Von Stetina's Maritime Paintings and Battle Scenes

Laura and Bruce Von Stetina

Historically Accurate Maritime Paintings

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Bruce Von Stetina, ASMA, ISMP

Bruce Von Stetina is known for 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.

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For information regarding purchasing one of the pieces shown below, licensing an image or commissioning a new painting or carving, contact Bruce at vsart1@embarqmail.com .

Witte Olifant, 1672. 24" x 36", Oil

Gouden Leeuw, 28" x 36", oil

The Battle of Solebay, 5' x 4', oil

Storm King, 24" x 30", oil

Bruce's notes about painting "The Battle of Solebay":

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.

2nd Day of the 4 Day Battle of 1666

4' x 6', oil. sold

Another Victory for Old Ironsides 4' x 6' oil sold

Battle between USS Constitution and HMS Java

Artist's notes about painting "Another Victory for Old Ironsides":

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.

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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.