Half Model of an 80-Gun Ship of the Line c. 1798

This is a half model of an 80-Gun Ship of the Line, crafted by an anonymous hand. The ship, reduced to a single plane, is a powerful symbol, evoking themes of exploration, conquest, and the vast unknown of the seas. Consider the grid-like pattern that forms the ship's hull below the waterline. The grid appears in the visual lexicon in many forms, and this ship can be considered in relation to others across time and space. We see the grid in the foundations of ancient cities, the rational order of a planned space, and this recalls the geometric precision and structure of a spiderweb. The ship's hull is in the grip of a powerful force. A ship is a vessel, and as such, it engages our primal instincts, tapping into the human psyche's deep-seated associations with journeys, dreams, and subconscious exploration. Here, the emotional resonance of such a vessel can be likened to a womb, a container, a vehicle for transporting something precious from one state to another. The symbols of the ship are potent emblems of human endeavor. Remember, a ship can also be seen as a harbinger of both promise and peril.