Half Model of a 4-Gun Schooner c. 1799

This half-model of a 4-Gun Schooner is made of wood. Notice the skeletal representation of the hull, exposing its ribs like a flayed anatomical study. The ship, throughout history, has always been a vessel of transition, a symbol of journeys, trade, and cultural exchange but also a harbinger of conflict. Consider the Greek myth of the Argonauts, in search of the Golden Fleece; or the Viking longships carrying warriors to distant shores. These sea vessels became a symbol of exploration, conquest, and the human desire to overcome the limits of the known world. This symbol echoes in modern times, representing the subconscious human impulse to venture beyond established boundaries and explore unknown territories, both physically and psychologically. The allure of the sea, represented by these skeletal remains of a vessel, can be understood as a metaphor for the human soul's quest for discovery. Through ages the ship motif reappears, constantly reinventing itself.