NO. 7 - FOUR-MASTED FULL-RIGGED SHIP

NO. 7 - FOUR-MASTED FULL-RIGGED SHIP

A full-rigged ship carried square sails on every mast, with a gaff-rigged sail on the lower part of the aft mast, as Alfred Wallis has depicted in this early painting.

These ships sailed long-distance trade routes, carrying heavy bulk cargoes like timber and guano, for which capacity and reliability mattered more than speed.

Full-Rigged ships were among the largest vessels ever built, and it is no wonder their vast size and striking sail plan left an impression on Wallis.