AMER AUGUST 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, August 24, 2015.
ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOL (19th century) PORTRAIT OF THE "MARY MERRILL"Oil on canvas portrait of a three masted schooner flying the American flag sailing past the white cliffs of Dover with a steam driven paddle wheeler in the distance. The "Mary Merrill", a transport cargo ship built in 1849, belonged to Taylor & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts. She was tragically caught in a gale in April of 1862, while carrying 250 bales of wool and a quantity of sheepskins, and run aground near Wellington Harbour. The vessel was unfortunately condemned and her cargo sold. Unsigned. Housed in a period gilt wood frame. SIZE: 19-3/4" x 30". Overall: 26" x 36" PROVENANCE: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Lloyd Stetson; by decent to Bernice Stetson Kinsman; by decent to Lorraine Kinsman Peabody; by decent to current owner. CONDITION: Yellowed varnish, craquelure, old discolored restoration throughout the sky and sails. Frame has cracks and losses to gilt molding. This lot is accompanied by a photocopy of the Lyttlelton Times, April 30, 1862, article describing the disaster that befell the ship. 49189-1 AL (2,500-4,000)