The paddle steamer ‘British Queen’ RMG BHC3756

The paddle steamer ‘British Queen’
A portrait of the paddle steamer ‘British Queen’ in broadside. Smoke is shown billowing from her stack. The ‘British Queen’ was built in Gainsborough in 1815 and owned by the Gainsborough and Hull United Steam Packet Company where she was a Humber packet boat travelling between Gainsborough and East Hull. By 1829 she was running between Hull and Gainsborough daily. The profile of a queen’s can be seen on the paddle wheel and there is the image of a queen at the figurehead. The artist has focused in detail on the figures on the deck. The costumes of the passengers are carefully shown as well as their activities as they pass the time on board. There are soldiers, couples, women seated, and several men standing raising glasses in a lively scene. Two musicians are shown playing a horn and clarinet. The coastline perhaps showing the Yorkshire side of the Humber can be seen in the background.

The paddle steamer ‘British Queen’