William B. Hoff

19th Century Maritime Seascape, USS Steam Frigate Niagara

c.19th Century

San Francisco moorings, a late 19th century double-sided pencil sketch by Raymond Dabb Yelland (American, 1848 - 1900), 1987. Signed "R.D. Yelland" lower right. Dated "87" lower left. Drawing on both sides of paper. Wood frame. Image size, 8.5"H x 12"L. A master marine painter, Yelland painted in Gloucester Harbor. He sailed to San Francisco in 1874 to take a teaching position in art at Mills College in Oakland. From 1877 to 1894, he taught at the California School of Design. He was a decisive influence on a younger generation of California artists. Full Bio: Raymond Dabb Yelland was born in London, England on February 2, 1848. At the age of three, he immigrated with his family to New York City where he was raised and attended public schools. By the age of twelve, he had settled on art as a career. He was born as Raymond Dabb, but due to the negative connotation of his name, his mother's maiden name, Yelland, was added. After serving under Sheridan in the Federal Army during the Civil War, Yelland attended Pennington Seminary in New Jersey. He studied art at the National Academy of Design from 1869 to 1871 with Page and Brevoort, and then taught at the Academy for one year. With his new bride, he sailed around the Horn in 1874 to San Francisco where he would assume the position of an art instructor at Mills College in Oakland. In 1877, he traveled to England, and later continued his studies in Paris with Luc Oliver Merson. Upon his return to California, Yelland became assistant director of the San Francisco School of Design, and in 1888, assumed its directorship. While at that school, he also taught at the University of California, Berkeley, for many years. His many pupils included Homer Davenport, Alexander Harrison...

Turn of 20th Century Spanish-American War Coast Guard Cutter with Cannons Original Oil Painting A fine example of maritime ship portraiture oil painting of a Coast Guard Cutter with cannons under sails during the Spanish American War by renowned Nautical British/American painter Captain William Lindsay Challoner (British/American 1852-1901), 1901. Auction values Luminous and striking painting with seaman unfurling sails heading into rough waters. Challoner served as captain of a naval vessel (Coast Guard Cutter) during the Spanish-American War. Here he is depicted on the deck of the ship while seamen scramble aloft on the rigging during a gale. The captain stands tall before the cannons at the ready to fend off intruders. His paintings are rare and highly prized by museums and Nautical collectors alike. Signed: Lower right corner "W. Challoner" Not framed Dated: "1910" Provenance: A local Monterey Bay area estate find. Condition: Professionally restored (conservation report available) Image size: 27.75"H x 47.38"W William Lindsay Challoner lived the peripatetic life of a mariner, spending much of his time at sea, and in ports such as New Orleans and San Francisco, California. He was born in Bedminster, England, and attended the York Naval Academy. In 1880, Challoner married Mary Cadogan. That same year, the couple immigrated to Argentina and then New Orleans. They had one son, William Lindsay Challoner, Jr. Lloyd’s Lists record Challoner as master aboard J.P. Macheca, a “Clipper Schooner” running bananas from Jamaica during the mid-1880s. The clipper also raced at the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans. As is often the case, Challoner’s middle name is misspelled as “Lindsey” in J.P. Macheca & Co. records. He is also said to have served as captain for vessels in the Morgan Line. Painting was at first an avocation for Challoner, but his draftsmanship and handling of paint suggest academic training. He may also have learned to make precise topographical drawings at the York Naval Academy. Many of his ship portraits are in the English tradition, notably followers of Samuel Walker, a leading English maritime artist in the 1850s. Like his Liverpool counterparts, Challoner used receding linear and atmospheric perspective to focus on the crisp portraits of specific ships. At their best, his canvases are highly finished, a style that imitates the Venetian tradition of topographical city views associated with Giovanni Antonio Canal, also known as Canaletto. However, Challoner’s restrained bravura paint handling also may bear witness to the influence of the French Impressionists. Challoner seems to have arrived in New Orleans about 1880. He advertised in the press and exhibited at the Creole Art Gallery and Grunewald’s Music Store in New Orleans. In 1887, Challoner moved to San Francisco, where he exhibited his maritime scenes at the Mechanic’s Institute and became a U.S. citizen. He may have been back in New Orleans after 1891, and served as captain of a naval vessel during the Spanish-American War. His art clients tended to be men involved in the shipping industry—ship owners and commission merchants, along with professional clubs and maritime benevolent societies. Challoner’s principal competition in New Orleans was August Norieri, a talented ship portraitist and painter of marines. While Norieri lived hand-to-mouth, Challoner drew a handsome salary working as a ship captain, presumably until shortly before his death at the age of 49. Securing the commission for painting the newly founded New Orleans Yacht Club suggests that Challoner was held in higher regard as an artist than Norieri. The two artists together met the market demand for ship portraiture and marine views in the port city, as had Edward Arnold and James Guy...

Noble nautical scene of a small rowboat coming to shore from a larger sailing vessel by George A. Robbins (American, 1918-2010). In the foreground, sever...

19th Century Impressionist Original Oil Painting of Malaysian Fishermen and Schooner by Alberto Bonghi The painting is a depiction of a scene in Malaysia with a Schooner in backgro...

American School, Mid-19th Century The Clipper Mary Lee in High Seas Oil on canvas Unsigned 25 x 35 inches

Adolphus Knell 19th-century English Warship at sea Owning in a 19th-century English fishing boat captured at sea circa 1880 by Adolphus Knell, with the sun rising or setting, offer...

Artist/ School: 19th Century French School Title: A Paddle Steamer in Choppy Waters, period fine quality gilt frame. Medium: oil painting on canvas, framed Size: canvas: 21.25” x...

English 19th century portrait of the Clipper ship Crescent in full sail. Acquiring a 19th-century English portrait of a clipper ship is more than just adding a painting to your coll...