St. Malo 1875

Here we have John Singer Sargent's pencil sketch of St. Malo, featuring a ship braving a tempestuous sea. The ship, a powerful symbol of human endeavor and exploration, is depicted battling against the natural world. The motif of the ship has traversed time, from ancient Egyptian funerary boats ensuring safe passage to the afterlife, to the Viking longboats carrying warriors to new lands, and the carracks of the Age of Discovery. Sargent's ship is shown withstanding the forces of nature, much like the "barca di Dante," in Delacroix's painting, which plunges into chaos. The emotional turmoil of the sea is reminiscent of subconscious anxieties and the primal struggle for survival. The ship becomes a poignant emblem of our collective memory, mirroring humanity's enduring quest for progress and resilience against overwhelming odds. The cyclical journey of the ship through art history reminds us of the ever-evolving human spirit, navigating the unpredictable currents of time.