Baltimore artist, Frank Nicolette loved to paint the water. From childhood it was evident he would become steeped in the romance of the great sailing ships from the grand square riggers to historic clippers and schooners to America's Cup racing scenes.

Through exhaustive research, often traveling to see reconstructed ships, sailing on any he could, he acquainted himself with the most precise details of their construction and history. Living close to the Chesapeake Bay allowed him to paint daily the ever-changing beauty and grandeur of God's creation.

A quiet modest man, he was surprised when large corporations began collecting his larger oil paintings. His work can be found at American Oil Company and Bethlehem Steel Corp as well as many private collections.

This talented artist tragically died of a brain tumor at the peak of his career. His widow, long desiring to give his work the widespread honor it deserved, has selected "The Pride of Baltimore" and "The Emma Giles" to be published into limited edition prints of 2,000 each.

The original Pride of Baltimore was designed by Thomas Kemp and launched on December 12,1812. She was one of the fastest sailing ships of all time. Under the command of Capt. William Wade she captured eleven enemy vessels and under Thomas Boyle, her next commander, twenty three. Her legacy continues in the reconstructed Pride of Baltimore.