The Ninth Wave Jigsaw Puzzle

20” x 30” jigsaw puzzle with an image of a painting created in 1850 by artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (29 July 1817 – 2 May 1900), a Russian Romantic painter who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art. This painting is considered his best known work. The title refers to an old sailing expression referring to a wave of incredible size that comes after a succession of incrementally larger waves. It depicts a sea after a night storm and people facing death attempting to save themselves by clinging to debris from a wrecked ship. The debris, in the shape of the cross, appears to be a Christian metaphor for salvation from the earthly sin. The painting has warm tones, which reduce the sea's apparent menacing overtones and a chance for the people to survive seems plausible. This painting shows the destructive side, and beauty of nature. See the entire Shipwreck Puzzle collection in the ACTIVITIES | Puzzles section.