Granville Perkins

USS CHICAGO Off Castle Williams and Governor's Island, New York Harbor

Dated 1891

Thomas Birch is considered one of the earliest American Marine painters of importance both in his own time and historically, forming the foundation of what would become a great American Maritime movement in the successive years of the 19th century. Born in England, Birch started as a landscape painter but after the War of 1812 he turned to marine subjects, taking inspiration from the best of both English and Dutch maritime traditions but refining these techniques into a very recognizable style all his own. The work featured here is a classic of Birch's later period, when he focused specifically on maritime subjects, mainly the busy waterways of Philadelphia Harbor. Here we see one of those scenes- a series of ships plying their trade, all framed by the city as it sits across the Delaware River, with the tall, white spire of what is either Independence Hall or Christ Church to the left of the main vessel. The details of the city are particularly good in this painting, with the wharf building to the left and the long line of buildings all along the shore. The American Merchant Bark at the center of this painting is rendered in excellent detail, from her house flag and pennant, to her rigging and sails, and down to her deck filled with the activity of crewmembers readying the ship to head out, her gilt billet...

Period yacht racing is a rare and desirable subject for marine paintings, and a 19th century work from Australia of this prime subject is among the rarest finds we may offer. The artist, Charles F. Gerrard, shows up in 1882 on the Sydney professional trade list as a painter, then as a marine artist and finally as simply 'artist'. He exhibits his first works with the Royal Art Society in Sydney in 1884, consisting of coastal scenes. He is extremely well received by his contemporaries according to newspaper reports. The recognizable features of "The Rocks", along the western shore of Sydney cove near the harbor bridge, stands forth as a superb background for the racing yachts. This historic location is the foundation of the British Australian empire, and today is the oldest preserved colonial district in the country, described as "Sydney's outdoor museum". Fine-lined cutter yachts compete over a sailing course, with two shown in great close detail while five more hold their positions in the regatta, as the rhythmic small swells are evidence the wind favors the leaders running on close reaches with the crossing tide. The crew and yachts are very much in the British formal yachting manner, with full uniforms and the plum-bow hulls. Note that there is one crew attired in red, possibly a naval marine team, and the sail steam ship anchored in the center flies the Australian Colonial...

Kipp Soldwedel (American 1913-1999) "Operation Sail" oil on canvas Very rare painting depicting the arrival of all tall ships taking part of the New York Harbor Event in 1964 and Celebrating the Birth of America. Framed with brass nameplates for all the vessels / ships. President John F. Kennedy coined the name for the event. The name 'Operation Sail', was to be used again in 1976, 1989, 1992 & 2000. The painting is a water-level view of the International fleet, USS Forrestal aircraft carrier in background, and Statue of Liberty to the right. This was painted in 1976. Signed lower right. Verso signed, inscribed with artist's copyrights and dedicated lower right. Please note this painting hung in the Rotunda of the Statue of Liberty Monument on Liberty Island, New York Harbor on July 4, 1988. Without frame measuring 48" high by 70" wide. With frame: 58" high x 80" wide Marine artist Kipp Soldwedel studied fine arts at Yale University and was awarded four Beaux Arts medals. He received a scholarship to the American Academy in Rome. During World War II, he was a flight instructor and meteorologist for the United States Air Force. Kipp Soldwedel is most well known for his maritime battle scenes though he did paint over 150 portraits of celebrities. His illustrations appeared in magazines such as National Geographic, Time, Life, and Town and Country. Many of his paintings depicted the tall ships. He was the known as one of the greatest modren masters of Marine Paintings. 1964 The first Operation Sail event, a tie-in with the New York World's Fair, brought tall ships from around the world to New York Harbor for a grand parade of sail up the Hudson, led by the USCGC Eagle as the host ship. Many of the vessels raced from Plymouth, England, to Lisbon, Portugal, before setting off on a 3,000-mile transatlantic journey to Bermuda and then a 630-mile northwest run to New York. The event also featured lifeboat races, a ticker-tape parade up Broadway honoring seamen of every participating nation, and two grand balls. Mayor Robert Wagner proclaimed that week in July to be "Operation Sail Week," and Secretary of...

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...