At Ironbridge Fine Arts, we are proud to be part of an extraordinary project celebrating the iconic HMS Captain, working alongside Wolverhampton University to bring both history and art to life. This project encompasses the museum-level framing of a restored section of the ship’s lost flag and the creation of Fine Art Reproductions of a commissioned painting by Geoff Hunt, one of the world’s most celebrated maritime artists.
We’re thrilled to be featured on BBC News—take a look!
The HMS Captain: A Tragic Maritime Legacy
HMS Captain was an experimental sail-and-steam turret warship, hailed as the “Pride of the Victorian Navy.” Tragically, she capsized off Cape Finisterre, Spain, just after midnight on 7 September 1870. Nearly 500 officers and crew perished, including prominent naval figures, making the loss a national catastrophe memorialised at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
A key symbol of this tragedy is the ship’s flag. After the Captain sank, a section of the Royal Navy ensign was recovered, its torn fabric a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the ship’s historical significance. This fragment is now the centerpiece of Wolverhampton University’s commemorative project.
Museum-Level Framing: Preserving the Flag
At Ironbridge Fine Arts, we are honoured to frame this historic flag section using Museum Level 1 standards with UV99 Acrylic, providing the highest level of protection while allowing viewers to engage with the artifact’s detail and history. The careful framing ensures that the flag is both preserved and visually compelling for display.
Geoff Hunt’s HMS Captain Painting and Fine Art Reproductions
Wolverhampton University have also commissioned Geoff Hunt, renowned worldwide for his maritime paintings, to create a depiction of HMS Captain. Hunt’s work combines historical accuracy, dramatic composition, and a sense of scale that conveys the majesty—and tragedy—of the ship.
At Ironbridge Fine Arts, we scanned the Original Geoff Hunt painting to create Fine Art Reproductions, allowing collectors and enthusiasts to enjoy this iconic artwork. Each reproduction faithfully captures the detail, color, and essence of Hunt’s original masterpiece.
The Grand Unveiling and Fundraising Event
The restored flag will be unveiled at a special fundraising evening titled HMS Captain: Technological Triumph to Tragedy on 23 September 2025 at the Royal Geographical Society, South Kensington, London. Hosted by the family of Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles and Royal Museums Greenwich, the event marks the 155th anniversary of the Captain tragedy and raises funds for the National Maritime Museum.
Highlights of the evening include:
Talks by Dr Howard Fuller, Find the Captain Project Leader; Professor Andrew Lambert, naval historian; and Dan Snow, TV presenter (History Hit).
The first public display of the restored section of the ship’s lost flag alongside other significant artefacts.
Attendance by descendants of those lost on the Captain and other VIP guests, with the presence of a senior member of the Royal Family.
Tickets are available via the Royal Museums Greenwich website: £30 for adults, £15 for children.
As National Geographic reminds us:
“Despite its size and impact on the lives of every organism on Earth, the ocean remains a mystery. More than 80 percent of the ocean has never been mapped, explored, or even seen by humans.”
Through projects like this, the stories of HMS Captain and the artistry of Geoff Hunt help illuminate the past and inspire engagement with maritime history for generations to come.
Find out more about The University of Wolverhampton Find the Captain project by clicking here
