c. 1860

Full-Rigged Clipper Ships

The mid-nineteenth century was the era of the clipper ships, admired for their speed, contribution to commerce, and the grace of their rigging and sails. Both self-taught and formally trained artists responded to the demand for images of these vessels. In this painting the artist is less interested in correct perspective or modeling than with the sharp delineation of all of the scene's elements--sails, rigging, waves, and clouds.