Shackleton/Endurance

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.© Copyright 1998 - 2002 All rights reserved.  

A Series of Watercolor Paintings

 On December 5, 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton, embarked in the 300-ton wooden barkentine Endurance, departed Grytviken whaling station on South Georgia Island on a mission to cross the Antarctic continent on foot.  On January 18, 1915, just 100 miles from their intended harbor and starting point for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Endurance became locked in pack ice and drifted northward for 10 months. The ship was crushed by the ice, and the crew abandoned ship on October 27, 1915.  Endurance sank on November 21, leaving the expedition stranded on drifting ice.  They were finally forced into small boats on April 9, 1916 and seven days later landed on Elephant Island.  

Chronicling the Shackleton Expedition

On April 24, 1916, Shackleton and five others departed in the small boat James Caird on a seemingly impossible mission to sail to South Georgia and then arrange a rescue of the 22 men marooned on Elephant Island.  After an incredibly arduous 16-day battle with high winds and heavy seas, they landed on the south shore of South Georgia.  Shackleton, Frank Worsley and Tom Crean, after a super-human 36-hour trek across uncharted and previously uncrossed mountains and ice fields, stumbled into Stromness on the north side of the island.  After three unsuccessful attempts, a fourth rescue effort retrieved all 22 men from Elephant Island on August 30, 1916.  Not a man was lost. 

 "The Adventure Begins"

Endurance underway from Grytviken, South Georgia on December 5, 1914 on what was planned to be the “Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition”.  While the original goal was not achieved, the next 21 months proved to be one of the most incredible sagas of sheer human perseverance and heroic leadership of all time.

" What Lies Ahead"

Shortly after leaving South Georgia, Endurance encountered the Weddell Sea pack ice.  Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew experienced the ice conditions they would battle for the next six weeks as they attempted to reach their goal of landing a scientific party on the Antarctic continent. 

 "Locked In"

On January 18, 1915, the Endurance became locked fast in the ice, only a day’s sail from the expedition’s intended goal.  For the next ten months, the ship drifted northward with the ice, until being crushed by the pressure of the shifting pack.  On November 21, 1915 the ship sank, and the party camped on ever-shrinking ice floes until forced to take to their small boats.

"Released From The Ice"

On April 9, 1916 the crew took to their small boats, the James Caird, Stancomb-Wills, and Dudley Docker, all named after benefactors of the expedition.   The boats are shown here negotiating dangerous icebergs and floes as they attempt to navigate to the relative safety of land. 

“Dry Land at Last”

Shackleton and his party in three small boats are shown approaching Cape Valentine, Elephant Island on April 16, 1916.  After a week of cold, wet, exhausting and nearly sleepless conditions, the crew was exhilarated by the prospect of setting foot on solid ground.  However, after a night of miserable and dangerous conditions at Cape Valentine, Shackleton moved the party seven miles down the coast to Point Wild. 

All Above Images are Available as Prints:

13" x 17 1/4"  gicle'e  on paper   $135

8"x 10 1/2"    gicle'e  on paper    $  45

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“Its Clearing, Boys!”

Knowing the rescue of the crew would not be possible at Elephant Island, Shackleton chose five others and attempted to navigate the James Caird 800 miles across the most dangerous seas in the world to South Georgia.  On May 6, 1916, Shackleton had just taken over the watch, and thought he saw clear sky to the southwest.  A moment later he realized he was mistaken - he was seeing the breaking crest of an enormous wave which nearly sank the boat.  Miraculously, they arrived at South Georgia on May 10. 

© Copyright 1998 - 2002 All rights reserved.