George Curtis

The Broken Mast

Circa 1870

This bright and serene scene of ships unloading off San Diego, California features a ship with a less than quiet history. The painting shows a typically bright and sunny Southern California day, the deep blue waters of San Diego providing the perfect backdrop for unloading crucial lumber for construction. The painting has Thimgan's eye for detail including the historic ship he's depicted, surely with a knowledge of her history, and his ability to so perfectly depict California's coastal landscape and surrounding waters. Some ships of legend get their reputations not for speed or daring rescues, but for the amount of chaos which happens onboard. Sailors, being generally a superstitious lot, could spread a ship's reputation like wildfire. As with the supposedly haunted places on land, the odd instances become larger tales whispered over strong drink in port or at worst, printed in bold newspaper headlines. The best crews don't want to serve aboard such vessels, so only the most hardened men sign on. Tempers flare and conditions deteriorate. Over time a ship gains the nickname of "hell ship" or "blood ship." This was the fate of the Bark HESPER. HESPER was purpose built in 1882 for the Pacific "Triangle Trade" - carrying lumber to Australia, coal to Hawaii and sugar to California, though she took on other cargoes in her career. The wooden bark of 603 tons was built by the Halls Brothers...

In this atmospheric Maine harbor view, the grey tone of the fog enveloping the sea and sky lend an air of realism to a striking composition. Granite and green are the colors of the Maine Coast...

A stalwart American ship clearing the Delaware headed for Honolulu with a load of coal, this broadside ship portrait by Alexander Charles Stuart is of the Ship GATHERER. In her maiden year of service, the Bath, Maine-built Downeaster went to New Orleans with hay, took a load of cotton from there to Liverpool, and crossed to collect the coal in Philadelphia before heading to Hawaii. She'd make 8 Cape Horn voyages, averaging about 129 days, a profitable and fast sailing Downeaster, and yet still record one of the bloodiest voyages in merchant maritime history. In this portrait, A.C. Stuart shows the large wooden vessel...

Frederick Waugh was a prolific seascape artist who generated 2,500 paintings of the sea and shore. Although it was never published, he penned a ten chapter book on marine painting. S...

Artist Commentary: This understated transitional abstract piece makes a bold statement. Strong shapes in pale green, purple, and beige look as if they are interwoven. Added interest is provided by two round images taken from a vintage furniture-assembly manual. A unique, painterly statement to add a distinguished and distinctive touch to any décor. A subtle, thoughtful painting. Words that describe this piece: soft, subtle, tan, mint, lavender, collage, understated Details about the piece: This is a hand-painted, original oil and cold wax painting...

On a white horse, with a white dog, 30x40cm

Samuel S.Hoskins Statement on Sacred Writing : I sought to delve into the concept of sacred texts, encompassing both religious and mythological narratives. Unlike conventional books, these sacred texts are dynamic, evolving throughout an individual's lifetime and human history. Reading such a text in childhood carries distinct significance compared to revisiting it in later stages of life. To symbolize our transformative journey, I depicted a path leading into the forest, illustrating how our life experiences influence our connection with these profound literary works. Sacred Writing 26x34 28x36 with Frame As a graduate of The Florence Academy of Art and a devoted oil painter, Samuel Hoskins...

Galopando-Galloping Cuban Figurative Young Liz Taylor Horses Giant Marfa Oil is by Cuban artist ANDRES RETAMERO VALENZUELA . Andres Retamero was born ...