Object Details
Artist
William Bradford, born Fairhaven, MA 1823-died New York City 1892
Luce Center Label
William Bradford is best known for his paintings of the Arctic, but his early work focused on the ships of New England. He grew up near New Bedford, Massachusetts, which was home to a successful whaling industry. In this image, he painted a large whaling ship with a smaller schooner sailing in the foreground, and the cliffs of Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard, in the background. This area was the standard route for whalers entering and leaving the port of New Bedford. Bradford emphasized the smallest details in this sweeping seascape, from the ripples in the sails to the suspenders on the sailors.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase
Date
1859
Object number
1978.72
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
oil on fiberboard
Dimensions
16 x 24 in. (40.7 x 61.0 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 10A
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Architecture\boat\sailing ship
Occupation\industry\fishing
Travel\water\boat
Waterscape\sea\Atlantic Ocean
Landscape\Massachusetts\Martha's Vineyard
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1978.72