Diagonal Ratlines on 1540s Portuguese Ships?

Bluemaxone said:
I am curious if anyone knows a history of this rigging? I have never seen diagonal ratlines before. From a YT documentary on Japanese first contact with Europeans, 1543. View attachment 450955
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I don't think it is painted from an actual ship. It is rather a painter's interpretation\vision. If you closely look, there are no deadeyes, or blocks attached. Also, have you ever climbed on Ratlines? I cannot imagine climbing using such ratlines.
 
Jimsky said:
I don't think it is painted from an actual ship. It is rather a painter's interpretation\vision. If you closely look, there are no deadeyes, or blocks attached. Also, have you ever climbed on Ratlines? I cannot imagine climbing using such ratlines
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Jimsky said:
I don't think it is painted from an actual ship. It is rather a painter's interpretation\vision. If you closely look, there are no deadeyes, or blocks attached. Also, have you ever climbed on Ratlines? I cannot imagine climbing using such ratlines.
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What's with the 'Baggy Pants'? Hardley, suited for climbing rigging!
 
I agree with @Jimsky and I would dare to say that in that time there where no ratlines on most of the ships. 1540 was the time that ratlines where not usual on ships, they used a rope ladder to get to the top.
 
Could be the ship went out with the cargo in the bows and returned with something else in the stern
 
Hoy, intresting, good question. This is definitely new to me, I'll check some books. I'm going to go with crewmember Jimsky, "artist interpretation." I'll keep an eye focused on the ratlines of Junks from now on, if I find anything I'll hoist a signal.
 
Hoy, me again,, you said "1540 Portugese." I apologize, from the picture I thought this was from the Orient. By chance this very day I'm building a model of Nao Victoria. A Portuguese ship of 1519 Magellans fleet. The first ship to sail around the World! It has traditional horizontal lines. I just finished the Nina and Pinta 1492 also with horizontal ratlines. The Nina Pinta and Santa Maria of 1492, Victoria of 1519, the Golden Hind of 1578 all have horizontal ratlines. Replica ships exist today of these ships.
If this drawing is of a European ship then crewmember Jimsky is 'in my opinion ' definitely correct. Not many artist are sailors and don't have the eye or knowledge of detail on a ship. Look how many artist show smoke coming out of Titanic's fourth funnel. I cant stand looking at the new AI renditions of sailing ships or ANYTHING AI has.
 
Steef66 and Jimsky, you prompted some thinking in me ... as you say, there were probably no ratlines in 1540, but I am thinking these diagonal lines may have been swiftering to keep the shroud lines evenly spaced, just as in the case of swiftering the mainstays in a later sailing warship. My feeling is that these lines were accurately rendered in the artist's drawing, not an interpretation. Opinions welcome, and thanks for your inputs.

As far as baggy pants, this was the fashion in Portugal, and fashion trumps function every time.
 
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