Alexey Vasilievich Hanzen

Otway & Orford proudly present the silk pocket square ‘Into the Storm’, featuring a beautiful maritime painting by artist Alexey Vasilievich Hanzen (1876-1937). 

Hanzen was an official artist at the last Russian Tsar’s Naval Ministry. He was forced to emigrate in 1920 due to the Russian Revolution, ending up in Dubrovnik, where he lived and worked until his death. During this period, he counted King Alexander of Yugoslavia amongst his most loyal customers. 

The original artwork was painted in oil on canvas during the 1930s and captures the Orient Line passenger ship ‘Orford’ as it leaves the safety of the port of Dubrovnik for the stormy waters of the Adriatic. 

The glamorous ocean liner ‘Orford’ was commanded by Captain A.L. Owens RD RNR, who regularly took the glamorous liner through these waters as part of summer Mediterranean cruises as well as for voyages between England and Australia. Captain Owens is the grandfather of Otway & Orford founder, Mark Owens.

The image of Alexey Vasilievich Hanzen is in the public domain.