Model of a 90-Gun Ship of the Line 1801

This is a model of a 90-Gun Ship of the Line, made by an anonymous artist. Ship models like this one were often built during the age of sail, when naval power was key to trade, colonization, and warfare. The cultural references in the image are clear: naval might equals national power, and the ship model is the symbolic embodiment of that power. Presumably made in Europe, it probably reflects the economic structures of the time; shipbuilding was a major industry, and naval power was closely tied to economic expansion. It’s likely that the model was commissioned, as a symbol of pride in a nation’s naval accomplishments. Art historians might consult naval records, economic histories, and period illustrations to better understand the social role played by this kind of ship. The model, then, goes beyond being a mere object: it is a testament to the social, economic, and political forces that shaped its time.