This is an antique 17" x 25" (sight size) 3rd quarter 19th century, Victoria era, original oil painting of sailing ships on rough seas by a Dutch artist, Georges Johannes Hoffmann (1833 - 1873) in a re-gilded ornately molded plaster over wood frame. There is relatively scant biographical information available on this artist. The painting depicts cutter boats which were quick load and transfer trade route cargo ships for transferring goods. It appears in the foreground that some cargo has been lost. The skies are showing a storm, with a peak of blue sky at top left, and heavy winds filling the sails on rough waters. The highest sale on record for auction for this artist was $5680 in 2007 at Sotheby's in Amsterdam, which was the height of the art market. Since then his sale public auction sale prices have slumped. The estimate is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparables. Retail 'asking prices' can be higher and vary.