Seadler , by Robert A. M. Stephens. Collection of W. R. Grace & Co., NY, NY

This was Count Felix Von Luckner's flagship during WW1. Oddly, he captured untold numbers of ships with this late square rigger and made a history for himself unparalleled nor uncopied in the annals of sea faring. His complete story is in the book entitled, 'The Sea Devil'. His strange and brazen rage on the high seas against the allies during WW1 is so odd it is nearly unbelievable. His claim to fame was, "I have never killed an enemy. I believe in defeat by capturing him and sinking his ships. Death is for the end of life". He kept his word to the letter. So much so his captured enemies were treated so well by Luckner on Seadler they were reticent to leave him or his ship when he would release them to their home country through stealth--he did not believe in 'prisoners of war' placed in camps, either.

I became fascinated by this man and his history after getting the commission to paint this piece for W. R. Grace. I then went on and bought all the books I could find on this man and his ship. I went on and also built a 1/48 scale full rigged model of Seadler (huge model at over 4 feet long) which is on display and in the collection of the Mannheim Maritime Museum, Mannheim, Germany.

This painting is an oil on panel, 32" x 54".