The Whaler Joseph Starbuck of Nantucket, Off the Coast of Hawaii, 1850, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches of the other two vessels and their funnel smoke wonderfully balancing the area of the canvas. Sydney’s North Head, just in view on the left, and the seagulls to the right complete this skillfully executed painting. The harmonious use of color, consideration of tonal values and light and atmospheric perspective are greatly appealing. Instantly, I am transported to another era and can virtually picture myself as a witness to this now-historic event. Another painting that I particularly admire depicts the whaler Joseph Starbuck of Nantucket off the coast of Hawaii, 1850. Whilst Os has masterfully captured a historic event by employing all of the already mentioned artistic elements, his creative use of color and balanced tonal values draw the viewer into the painting. Os’s seafaring experience, intimate knowledge of ship’s rigging, and sharp observation of weather and sea conditions perfectly narrate the scene. One can virtually smell the briny water and feel the breeze. And the fluttering flags add that special touch! Those who knew Os fondly remember him as very personable and always willing to talk about art and ships and the sea. I treasure the letters he wrote to me that included photos of his selected paintings with interesting commentaries written on the back, as well as the envelopes themselves that featured Os’s artwork, making them works of art in their own right. Os Brett died on 6 August 2017 following complications after a fall in his home on Long Island. He was 96. He is survived by children Walter and Elizabeth in New York, as well as by a nephew, Oswald Frizell, in Australia and a grandson, Samuel, in Buffalo, New York. Os’s contribution to the celebration of the maritime heritage of Australia and the United States, The Full-Rigged Ship Balclutha Beating Out of Bristol Channel through art, is most significant. in the Winter of 1894, gouache, 20 x 30 inches. Stan Stefaniak, FASMA, is President of the Australian Society of Marine Artists. 34
Balclutha escaped near disaster when her cargo of coal shifted at sea. She has been fully restored and is now a museum ship in San Francisco. SEA HISTORY 161, WINTER 2017–18