Edit Object 578

DISPLAYING PROPER MOMENTUM FOR THE DRAW OF CANVAS, INCLUDING STARBOARD STUDDING SAILS HARD PRESSED, A CLIPPER BREAKS THROUGH A DEEP OCEAN SWELL BEFORE ANOTHER TRAILING SHIP WHICH FLIES AN AMERICAN ENSIGN. SAILORS RIDING ON THE BOWS OF BOTH WAVE THEIR GREETINGS OR GOOD-BYES, LIKELY THE LATTER, AS THE MAKE WAY FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE PORTS AND THE UNLOADING OF THEIR APPARENTLY FULL HOLDS.

WIND AND WAVES ARE IN SYNCHRONICITY, WITH DAWSON SHOWING BOTH HIS STRENGTHS AS AN ARTIST AND KNOWLEDGEABLE SCHOLAR OF THE DAYS OF SAIL. METICULOUS IN HIS PREPARATION, THE ARTIST WOULD WORK MULTIPLE SKETCHES AND PHYSICAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS TO ARRIVE AT HIS REMARKABLE REALISTIC DEPTHS WITHIN A FLAT CANVAS. A FINE EXAMPLE THIS IS, WITH THE RISING SWELL OF THE OCEAN COMING BEFORE AND BETWEEN THE SHIPS AND THEIR DIVERGENT TACKS. THE CANVAS COMES TO LIFE, AND THE BRIGHT BLUE SKY MAKE ONE WISH TO BE ABOARD.

IT IS FAIRLY SAFE TO ASSUME THAT DAWSON INTENDED AND PAINTED SPECIFIC SHIPS. MANY MATCHED VESSELS COME TO MIND: THE GLORIOUS ORIENT-TO-ENGLAND RACE OF ARIEL AND TAEPING, CUTTY SARK BATTLING THERMOPYLAE THE WORLD OVER, AND OF COURSE THE 1850s NEW YORK-TO-CALIFORNIA RACES INSPIRED BY THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD, INCLUDING 1852 DEEP-SEA DERBY OF 16 CLIPPERS, WITH WILD PIGEON, JOHN GILPIN AND FLYING FISH. BESIDE THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE BEST SURVIVING CLUE TO THE IDENTITY OF BOTH SHIPS IS THE DETAILED FIGUREHEAD OF THE FOREMOST CLIPPER- A MALE HUMAN WITH A SWORD, CAPE AND CROWN. SUCH A DISCOVERY HOPEFULLY REMAINS YET TO BE MADE.

Select a Type
American Ship Portrait
Barometers
Bells
Binnacles & Compasses
Binoculars
Book Maritime
Book Voyages
Books
Books General
Boylhart Collection
Builders Full Models
Builders Half-Model
Canes - Decorative
Canes - Gimmick
Cannons
Carving
Chronometers
Clocks
Contemporary Art
Contemporary Models
Decorative Art - Boxes
Dieppe Models
Diorama Models
Diving Helmets & Equipment
Dockyard Models
Edged Weapons
Engravings
Figureheads
Firearms
Fishing Equipment
Folk Art Models
Furniture
Glass and Pottery
Globes
Jewelry
Joe & Lisa's Art Collection
Lamps
Letters
Lighthouse Artifacts
Limited-Edition Prints
Lithographs
Maps & Charts
Marine Narrative
Marine Narrative at Sea
Medical
Microscopes
Miscellaneous Artifacts
Navigation Instruments - Compass
Navigation Instruments
Navigation Instruments - Sextant
Octants, Quadrants & Backstaffs
Original art
Other Models
Painted Photograph
Passenger Liner Memorabilia
Patent Models
Period Models
Photographs
Pond Models
Pottery
Prints
Prisoner-of-War Artifacts
Prisoner-of-War Models
Sailor Crafts
Sailor Valentines
Sailor Woolworks
Scrimshaw Artifacts
Scrimshaw Private
Scrimshaw Teeth
Sea Chests
Sextants
Ship Clocks
Ship Hardwares
Ship in a Bottle
Ship Log Books
Ships Flogging Whip
Signed Documents
Silver and Silver Plated Models
Speaking Trumpets
Statues
Steam Engine Models
Steam Models
Sundials
Sword
Tankards & Pitchers
Telescopes
Tillers, Rudders & Yokes
Toy Models
Trinity Boxes
Trophys & Presentions
Voyages & Travels
Watches
Whaling