JAMES EDWARD BUTTERSWORTH (1817-1894)
This oil painting on board by J.E. Buttersworth depicts a busy New York harbor. The size is 8"x 14". The condition is good. No restoration. The frame appears original,it has slight damage,minor restoration would be simple. The painting is signed at the lower left.
Known for marine paintings from subjects he observed in the waters off New York, James Buttersworth lived long enough to depict the early steamship era. His career spanning sixty years was dedicated to portraits of all types of ships at sea such as racing clipper ships, steamers, and yachts. Nearly 600 of his paintings have been found, and his contribution in preserving this colorful chapter in American history is profound.
His special skill was portraying the majesty, grace, and movement of sailing vessels, and viewers have a strong sense of being pulled along because of the curves and flow he conveyed in his wind-filled sails.
He applied paint thinly, primarily in oil, and used a variety of grounds including canvas, milkboard, wood panels, and metal. A meticulous draftsman, Buttersworth had an eye for exact detail, and painted clipper ships and great sailing yachts as well as historical conflicts with battleships. The paintings are usually made dramatic by stormy skies and churning ocean waves.
Another break came when he exhibited and sold paintings through the American Art Union from 1850 to 1852 in New York City, and, as a result, was commissioned to make a series of drawings for the yacht race of 1851 in England.
JAMES EDWARD BUTTERSWORTH (1817-1894)Known for marine paintings from subjects he observed in the waters off New York, James Buttersworth lived long enough to depict the early steamship era. His career spanning sixty years was dedicated to portraits of all types of ships at sea such as racing clipper ships, steamers, and yachts. Nearly 600 of his paintings have been found, and his contribution in preserving this colorful chapter in American history is profound. His special skill was portraying the majesty, grace, and movement of sailing vessels, and viewers have a strong sense of being pulled along because of the curves and flow he conveyed in his wind-filled sails.He applied paint thinly, primarily in oil, and used a variety of grounds including canvas, milkboard, wood panels, and metal. A meticulous draftsman, Buttersworth had an eye for exact detail, and painted clipper ships and great sailing yachts as well as historical conflicts with battleships. The paintings are usually made dramatic by stormy skies and churning ocean waves. Another break came when he exhibited and sold paintings through the American Art Union from 1850 to 1852 in New York City, and, as a result, was commissioned to make a series of drawings for the yacht race of 1851 in England
