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The Flying Cloud by John Steven Dews
- Dews’ masterful painting honors one of the most legendary clipper ships in history
- The work captures the Flying Cloud at sunrise with remarkable maritime precision
- The famed clipper became a lasting symbol of American speed and maritime innovation
- A master of maritime art, Dews is among the most acclaimed living marine painters
- Get complete item description here
$198,500
Item No.
32-3232
To speak to one of our experts, call 1-888-711-8084
Description
John Steven Dews
b. 1949 | British
The Flying Cloud
Signed ‘J. Steven Dews’ (lower left)
Oil on Canvas
John Steven Dews’ The Flying Cloud brings to life the legendary 19th-century clipper ship Flying Cloud, one of the most celebrated vessels of the golden age of sail. Painted by one of today’s foremost maritime artists, the work unites a world-record-holding American vessel with Dews’ exceptional command of sea, sky and sail.
. . .
b. 1949 | British
The Flying Cloud
Signed ‘J. Steven Dews’ (lower left)
Oil on Canvas
John Steven Dews’ The Flying Cloud brings to life the legendary 19th-century clipper ship Flying Cloud, one of the most celebrated vessels of the golden age of sail. Painted by one of today’s foremost maritime artists, the work unites a world-record-holding American vessel with Dews’ exceptional command of sea, sky and sail.
. . .
Read More
John Steven Dews
b. 1949 | British
The Flying Cloud
Signed ‘J. Steven Dews’ (lower left)
Oil on Canvas
John Steven Dews’ The Flying Cloud brings to life the legendary 19th-century clipper ship Flying Cloud, one of the most celebrated vessels of the golden age of sail. Painted by one of today’s foremost maritime artists, the work unites a world-record-holding American vessel with Dews’ exceptional command of sea, sky and sail.
The ship appears alone on the open ocean at sunrise, angled across a gentle swell as warm light begins to spread along the horizon. Gently churning waves move beneath the vessel, while a light breeze fills its sails and carries it forward. The composition captures the quiet beauty of the setting while suggesting the speed and endurance that made the ship’s name legendary.
Designed by Donald McKay and launched in East Boston in 1851, the Flying Cloud was built for speed. During the California Gold Rush, the passage from New York to San Francisco could take more than 200 days, making a faster crossing a significant advantage. The Flying Cloud completed the journey in 89 days and 21 hours in 1851, then broke her own record three years later with a passage of 89 days and 8 hours. That record stood until 1989.
The Flying Cloud’s achievement was fundamentally Eleanor Creesy’s. At a time when women were rarely even educated, she learned navigation from her stepfather and uncle, master mariner John Prentiss, and studied the work of oceanographer Matthew Fontaine Maury. Creesy married Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy in 1841, and a decade later, they set out aboard the newly launched Flying Cloud to sail from New York to San Francisco, with Creesy as navigator. She tracked the ship’s position and guided her through storms, shifting currents, and the doldrums near the equator. Creesy’s achievements have since been recognized with her selection for the 2026 class of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Born in Yorkshire in 1949, John Steven Dews is regarded as one of the foremost living maritime painters. An experienced yachtsman, he brings firsthand knowledge of sailing to his work, evident in the precise rendering of the rigging, the balanced movement of the vessel and the luminous treatment of sea and sky. Dews’ paintings have been commissioned by the Marine Board of New South Wales, the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron. In The Flying Cloud, history, atmosphere and technical precision come together in a compelling portrait of a ship that remains legendary under sail.
Canvas: 29 1/2“ high x 39 1/2” wide (74.93 x 100.33 cm)
Framed: 37 1/2" high x 47 3/4" wide x 1 3/4" deep (95.25 x 121.29 x 4.45 cm)
b. 1949 | British
The Flying Cloud
Signed ‘J. Steven Dews’ (lower left)
Oil on Canvas
John Steven Dews’ The Flying Cloud brings to life the legendary 19th-century clipper ship Flying Cloud, one of the most celebrated vessels of the golden age of sail. Painted by one of today’s foremost maritime artists, the work unites a world-record-holding American vessel with Dews’ exceptional command of sea, sky and sail.
The ship appears alone on the open ocean at sunrise, angled across a gentle swell as warm light begins to spread along the horizon. Gently churning waves move beneath the vessel, while a light breeze fills its sails and carries it forward. The composition captures the quiet beauty of the setting while suggesting the speed and endurance that made the ship’s name legendary.
Designed by Donald McKay and launched in East Boston in 1851, the Flying Cloud was built for speed. During the California Gold Rush, the passage from New York to San Francisco could take more than 200 days, making a faster crossing a significant advantage. The Flying Cloud completed the journey in 89 days and 21 hours in 1851, then broke her own record three years later with a passage of 89 days and 8 hours. That record stood until 1989.
The Flying Cloud’s achievement was fundamentally Eleanor Creesy’s. At a time when women were rarely even educated, she learned navigation from her stepfather and uncle, master mariner John Prentiss, and studied the work of oceanographer Matthew Fontaine Maury. Creesy married Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy in 1841, and a decade later, they set out aboard the newly launched Flying Cloud to sail from New York to San Francisco, with Creesy as navigator. She tracked the ship’s position and guided her through storms, shifting currents, and the doldrums near the equator. Creesy’s achievements have since been recognized with her selection for the 2026 class of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Born in Yorkshire in 1949, John Steven Dews is regarded as one of the foremost living maritime painters. An experienced yachtsman, he brings firsthand knowledge of sailing to his work, evident in the precise rendering of the rigging, the balanced movement of the vessel and the luminous treatment of sea and sky. Dews’ paintings have been commissioned by the Marine Board of New South Wales, the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron. In The Flying Cloud, history, atmosphere and technical precision come together in a compelling portrait of a ship that remains legendary under sail.
Canvas: 29 1/2“ high x 39 1/2” wide (74.93 x 100.33 cm)
Framed: 37 1/2" high x 47 3/4" wide x 1 3/4" deep (95.25 x 121.29 x 4.45 cm)
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Specifications
| Maker: | Dews, John Steven |
| Period: | 1919-Present |
| Origin: | England |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Academic |
| Depth: | 1.75 in. (4.45 cm) |
| Width: | 47.75 in. (121.29 cm) |
| Height: | 37.5 in. (95.25 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 39.500 in. (100.33 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 29.500 in. (74.93 cm) |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
