Antonio Jacobsen Oil on Board of “S.S. Massachusetts”
By Antonio Jacobsen
Located in Norwell, MA
Large oil on panel painting of the excursion paddle steamer, “Massachusetts”. Signed lower right hand, “Antonio Jacobsen, N.Y. 1914, 31 Palisade Ave, West Hoboken NJ”. Condition: Frame has been replaced, original stretcher, relined, professionally cleaned and conserved. Minor in painting and a few touch ups noted.
Dimensions: 27.25” x 47.75”.
Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen (1850-1921), America’s Folk Art hero recognized for his unsurpassed contributions to America’s maritime history, recorded domestic and international ships as they passed through the age of sail to steam. Jacobsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on November 2, 1850 to a family of violin makers. His father encouraged him to practice a similar craft and at an early age he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Design in Copenhagen. Reversed family fortunes forced him to withdraw at 18, when it was compulsory for him to join the Danish military forces, he decided to set sail for America.
Like many immigrants, he went to New York City’s Battery Park looking for work. He passed his days sketching the ships that sailed in and out of the harbor. Soon, a representative from Marvin Safe Company noticed his drawings and offered him a job decorating safes. He received commissions from sea captains and ship owners, and eventually Steamship companies, to record their entire fleet. The Old Dominion Line, the Fall River Line and the White Star Line are some of the companies that commissioned him to paint portraits of all the ships in their respective fleets.
In addition, the Clyde Line, the Black Ball Line...
Category
Early 20th Century North American Paintings