The marine paintings of W.A. Coulter provide an alluring glimpse of the ships that visited the West Coast around the turn of the century. In this fine work, Coulter has placed one of the great American clipper ships off the Farralon Islands just outside the Golden Gate.

Coulter’s time spent at sea is evident here as he shows the full-rigged clipper hove to, with all sails on her mainmast back winded to hold her steady against the stream as she patiently awaits a pilot from the approaching San Francisco pilot schooner to come aboard and guide her to a waiting berth.

Coulter has created a unique atmosphere in this work, using colors uncommon to the bulk of his paintings. Pink and orange hues suggesting sunset highlight the ship’s sails and soft cloud reflections as the stately vessel floats on a turquoise sea.