15-year-old Patrick O'Brien drew the short straw. He was killed and eaten by the rest of the crew - Irish cannibals on the high seas

The two 19th-century paintings of Spaight's Shipping Company ships, set for auction, represent a prosperous maritime business but also a reminder of darker historical contexts.

Featuring three-masted vessels in full gear, these expertly crafted paintings capture the grace of sailing ships from a time marked by both adventure and exploitation.

Read at Independent