Early 19th Century Sepia Watercolor (signed by artist) of an American Ship under Sail among other Harbor activities.

Fine Art : Paintings : Water Color : Sepia : Artist Signed : 19th Century

 

An original antique watercolor in sepia brown signed by artist (signed LJL) of a harbor scene with American tall ship under sail in foreground and other water craft activity. The water color dates from the 1800 to 1830 based on the painting medium and style, the types of ships and the style of signature of the artist. The scene also portrays various atmospheric effects that were fashionable to capture in the early nineteenth century paintings. Sepia or monochrome brown water color paintings were very popular from the late 1700s on through to the early to mid 1800s. The artist’s initials, LJL (or IJL) are printed at an angle in the lower left corner. All of these attributes help place the age of this work.

The painting depicts a harbor scene with a barrel buoy in the left foreground, three smaller water craft (two under sail and one moving galley boat), a large three masted ship at anchor off in the distance and an sleeker American ship under sail in the center foreground. The American ship is identifiable by its flag which indicates that the ship is traveling at an angle to the wind. Exactly where this scene takes place is not recognizable from any landmarks or other easily identifiable features. The smaller two sail craft may be ethnographically identifiable to an expert in coastal small sail boats, and if any viewer can add some details, kindly drop me a note - thanks. About all I can say is the back end of the large three masted ship off in the distance looks like a large man-o-war vessel since it sits very high in the water. In fact, judging by distance, the large three masted ship is two to three times as tall off the water as the American ship in the foreground.

In contrast, the American ship has a lower profile in the water and may be a clipper ship although its foresails obscure important features. It is moving at a fast pace since one can see the height of the water that its bow is raising as it heads toward the viewer. The original context for the activity of the scene is not known. At first, the haze of the scene suggested a storm or early morning fog. There is volcano shaped feature in the background that may a pottery kiln spewing smoke given its size and placement at about the waterline. Charleston across from Boston, for example, had working stoneware kilns in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Mist and fog shroud the shoreline. All the visible activity is in the vicinity of the foreground. A small puff of white smoke seems to appear off the back of the man-o-war and is the only suggestion of some other possible context, such as a battle. All attributes suggest that this painting dates from the 1800 to 1830 period.

The person who sold me this painting simply said it had been in his family for at least three generations (it was from his great grandfather’s estate). He knew almost nothing more about it other than that his grandfather’s name was Bagg, he was Prussian and had lived in Chicago more than 100 years ago. Sadly, that was all he could offer. The painting is on wove paper (not laid paper) which dates after 1760 and more likely after 1780. There is a watermark present, but I cannot read it without removing the sheet from its backing. It is possible that this painting might depicts a scene on the Great Lakes around the time of the War of 1812, but without more research such a view is simply speculation. Any viewer suggestions and comments are solicited and welcomed. And as always, this antique watercolor also comes with my full satisfaction guarantee or return it for a refund (see return policy full details explained farther below).

SIZE: This painting is rendered on a 7 by 9 1/4 inch sheet of wove paper that has toned over time. This paper in turn is placed over a 9 7/8 by 7 inch piece of wove green paper that has faded. I do not know if the painting was professionally mounted or lightly glued to the green wove sheet because I have not opened the frame to inspect it. The faded green wove paper is apparently pasted to a darker card stock that forms the backing for the frame. The frame itself measures is 19 inches long by 15 3/4 inches tall and has a faux veined veneer with black borders (frame is probably less than 70 years old). The paper backing across the back of the frame is fully intact.

CONDITION: This water color is in excellent condition with no tears, rips, holes, stains, repairs or restorations. There is some roughness along two edges where the original sheet was trimmed, but no major tears or visible grime from handling. A nice old watercolor portraying a slice of time in America’s young history as a growing maritime power. Satisfaction guaranteed (see below).

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Item ID: RL270.a769

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