Oil on board, "Boston and ship, sun sett maney Boats", circa 1830, signed "R Salmon" and titled and dated incursive on reverse "Painted by Robert Salmon 1830" and numbered "647". "Robert Salmon Painter of Ship & Shore, Appendix A, Salmon's Catalogue of Paintings", p. 91, this manuscript of Salmon is reproduced in its original format. In this manuscript, Salmon wrote: "9 day. 24, 16 1/2. Boston and ship, sun sett maney Boats. 6 pounds". This Boston Harbor setting is shown at sunset depicting the end of the workday as dusk fills the sky. Salmon employs his characteristic figures here: the foreground features men anchored in a sailing skiff, one of whom is clad in Salmon's signature red shirt. Other typical elements: the scalloped ripples on the harbor form a perfect linear pattern; the ships in the busy harbor are rendered in the highest degree of details; and the State House stands on the horizon to identify the harbor as distinctly Boston. The inbound ship on the right with bustling crew on deck and her anchor hanging on the cathead ready to drop, is perhaps arriving from Europe. She is counterbalanced by the outward-bound topsail schooner at left, which is bearing down on the crew of competitive oarsmen entering the composition at far left. The scene, though filled with vessels and workmen, is tranquil; the warm sunset fills the sky with brilliant bands of yellow and pink light upwards from the horizon and reflects out across the water. In this work Salmon anticipates the boundaries of luminism with its bright glowing colors filling the sky. (PA1075)
Note: Salmon kept a journal where he listed most of his paintings. The listings would usually list the painting number and these numbers ran chronologically from low to high in the journal. In the listing he usually would mention the painting's size, title, number of days it took to paint. If he sold the painting, he would sometimes include the sold price. When Salmon completed a painting, he typically, but not always, wrote the journal number on the back of the canvas or wood panel. Having the painting with the catalogue number enables one to refer to the journal to obtain additional information about the painting. A copy of the original journal is in the collection of the Boston Public Library. A second reference is the book “Robert Salmon Painter of Ship and Shore” by John Wilmerding which has an Appendix A which begins on page 89 and ends on page 98. The paintings in the Wilmerding book and in Salmon's original journal begin with No. 1 and end on No. 999. The dates in the journal begin at 1807 and end in July 1840. Not all Salmon paintings were listed in his journal as Salmon’s first works were painted in the year 1800; seven years before the journal came into use.
Reference 1: Finamore, Daniel and Austen Barron Bailey, "In American Waters", published by Peabody Essex and Crystal Bridges 2021, page 82.
Reference 2: Granby, Alan & Janice Hyland, “Flying the Colors: The Unseen Treasures of Nineteenth Century American Marine Art”, 2009, published by Mystic Seaport. This painting is described on page 9 and is illustrated on page 37.
Reference 3: Wilmerding, John, "Robert Salmon Painter of Ship and Shore" 1971, published by the Peabody Museum of Salem, MA.
Dimensions of Painting: Height 16 1/2; Width 24 1/4 inches.
Dimensions of Frame: Height 21 3/8; Width 28 5/8 inches.
Condition of Painting: Painting is in excellent condition with only a few minor specks of in-paint. There is a long horizontal very fine in-painted line that runs across most of the middle of the painting.
Condition of Frame: The frame has a period gold leaf frame with applied decorative patterns at each corner. The frame was regilded by the Peabody Essex Museum so it was presentable for the exhibition in "American Waters". The restorer's workmanship finely retained the age patina.
Provenance: Collection of George Lewis. (There are five labels in a row, Museum of Fine Arts, George Lewis Collection.)
Exhibition: This painting was included in a joint exhibition, the first titled “In American Waters: The Sea in American Paintings”. This exhibit was held at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, on May 29th – October 5th and then exhibited at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas on November 6, 2021 to January 31, 2022. This joint exhibition included many of the finest maritime related paintings spanning the late 18th century up through the mid-20th century. The paintings were lent by many of America’s finest museums and a few private collectors.
Auction Records: Similar American paintings by Robert Salmon
01/26/11 Bonham’s “American Revenue Cutter” 16x24 ($150,000-$250,000). Sold: $458,000.
8/4/06 Barridoff “A Schooner in Calm Sea” 8x10 ($30,000-$50,000). Sold: $148,125.
5/21/02 Phillips “American Schooner Under Heavy Sail” 16X24 ($150,000-$175,000). Sold: $189,000. Foster Collection.
5/21/02 Phillips “Schooner with a View of Boston” 16x24 ($200-$250,000). Sold $508,500. Foster Collection.
5/21/02 Phillips “Bark Marblehead” 15x23 ($175,000-$250,000). Sold: $310,000. Foster Collection.
5/21/02 Phillips “View of Boston Harbor” 9x11 ($125,000-$150,000). Sold: $552,000 Foster Collection.
12/3/98 Sotheby’s “Shipping Scene at Boston” 15x24 ($80,000-$120,000). Sold: $112,500.
Price $550,000.
