AMER AUGUST 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, August 24, 2015.
FITZ HENRY LANE (American, 1804–1865) PORTRAIT OF THE BARK "MARY"Oil on canvas scene shows a portrait of the Bark "Mary" sailing right to left in blue & green water. The bark's pennant flies off middle mast with the American flag flying off the stern. A few men can be seen on board. Another tall ship with masts up can be seen in the distance off the bow. Seagulls can be seen in the foreground as well as off the stern and in the far distance. All under blue sky with white clouds having pink hues. Housed in a fine period gesso decorated frame.
After consulting and conferring with the scholars assembling the catalogue raisonne, both John Wilmerding and Sam Holdsworth have concluded that it is a work by Fitz Henry Lane and will be included in the catalogue raisonne that is being assembled by the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The painting has also undergone infrared photography at Williamstown Art Conservation Center in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Their conclusions was that there were some minor changes to the position of the flag, some fine tuning of the position of the rigging and the angle of the bow line. This is in keeping with Lane's attention to accurately detail the ship. There was research done by the Cape Ann Museum regarding the Mary's signal flags which read from top down "2 5 1 3". The canvas stamp of "A. Morris Boston" was researched and is listed in the 1845 and 1846 Boston directory. The information regarding the ship indicated that she was built in 1844 in Medford, Massachusetts having the home port as Boston. Also, attributed to the ship builders Foster & Taylor and Captain Hopner as shipmaster of the Mary. These are mentioned in a family manuscript dated "Boston April 12, 1867" which describes the bark Mary with details. Also, there is the use of red primer paint which was common with Lane's work including The Anchor, Shroud Chain Plates, Bobstays. Another attribute of Lane's paintings is the reflections of seagulls in the water and the framing composition of dark clouds in the corners and luminous color treatment of sea. Accompanying lot is Old Ships and Ship-Building Days Medford by Hall Gleason. SIZE: 19-1/2" x 27". Overall: 26-1/2" x 34-1/2". PROVENANCE: From a Maine collection. A notebook of extensive research accompanies lot CONDITION: Very good with minor inpainting. Recently cleaned by Anthony Moore Conservatory of York, Maine. Lined (photograph of the back of the canvas retained) 49259-1 WAG (150,000-250,000)