COVE

This model ship, like many others on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario, is part of the Thomson collection, a massive collection of over 2000 works of art, all donated from Ken Thomson’s personal art collection. Among these donations was a collection of 130 model ships, all dating between the 17th century to 20th century. The model depiction of a British or French ship-of-the-line is primarily crafted of bone and horn, with silk to craft the ropes, and wood to function as a base. Intricately crafted and finely detailed, the exact maker of this model ship is unknown, but was most likely crafted by French prisoners held captive in British ships or prisons using materials they had on hand, or scraps left over from meals. During the romanticism era, the desire to explore the world and experience all it had to offer was growing in popularity, and all for the desire to experience a very particular set of feelings, brought forth by grand scenery, fear of the unknown, and the solitude of the open world. A journey on a ship such as the one depicted captures all these elements. No place is more isolated than the open ocean, no place sparks one's imagination than the depths of the seas, and through both those factors, no place better instills a feeling of the sublime than those seafaring journeys. Through Coleridge's story, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the utilization of the sailors journey to encapsulate the desires of the romanticist writers became clear. The myths and legends that surround the sea, such as the kraken, sirens, and many others, further reinforce the fear and danger present on the open oceans, igniting creativity and instilling stronger feelings of the sublime. Through this, a loop is created, where one myth turns into two, and the ocean becomes a greater and greater place for the romanticist writer to experience all they could ever dream of. 

Key Words: the sublime, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, exploration, ship, myths