Robert Salmon (1775-1844)
Oil on canvas, signed in red "Salmon" lower right and titled on an old label on reverse of frame "Boston Light", American, circa 1840. Painted on the transom is the name Boston Light and this was the tender for transporting people back and forth to the lighthouse. There is a single oar on each side of the tender so the boat could be brought to shore slowly. The oars are extended out on both sides with water dripping out on the ends. There are several figures in the tender who are brightly colored. The standing figure at the bow has a red shirt and the standing figure near the stern has red pants and a white shirt. The lighthouse appears about center on the canvas and is set on a headland at the waters edge. At the far right-hand end of this promontory is a standing figure holding a rope line. There are three other figures standing next to the lighthouse. The spit of land tapers down and to the far left is a two-storied house with hip roof. In the distance on the right are two small crafts with figures and in the distance at the horizon is a ship. The sky is bright blue and then there is a gradation to luminous pinks and grays. The sky has dark billowing clouds which extend to the top of the painting and across the center of the canvas as though there is an impending storm. The upper right quarter of the painting is bright blue becoming yellow, orange and pink. These same colors are highlighted at the top of all the clouds. The water shows very modest ripples and is extremely flat, with a bright band of water in the foreground, where the water meets the cliff and to the area at the far right and to the horizon. This is a very fine view of "Boston Light" located on Brewster Island in outer Boston Harbor and dates back to the Revolutionary War. (PA1078)
Note: Salmon kept a journal where he listed most of his paintings. The listings would usually list the painting number; these numbers ran chronologically from low to high in the journal. In the listing he usually would mention the painting's size, title and number of days it took to paint the picture. 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 a 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 the journal; Salmon’s first works were painted in the year 1800; seven years before the journal came into use.
Reference: Wilmerding, John, "Robert Salmon Painter of Ship and Shore" published by the Peabody Museum of Salem, MA, 1971.
Dimensions of Painting: Height 15 inches, Width 18 1/4 inches.
Dimensions of Frame: Height 20 1/4 ; Width 23 5/8 inches.
Condition of Painting: Cleaned and relined. With the exception of a few minor spots of in-paint around the painting and a small amount of frame abrasion along the edges; generally excellent.
Condition of Frame: The period gesso frame with original gold leaf surface has scattered gilt losses and corner separations.
Provenance: Collection of George Lewis
Auction Records for American Paintings by Robert Salmon:
01/26/11 Bonham’s “American Revenue Cutter" 16x24 ($150-$250,000). Sold - $458,000.
8/4/06 Barridoff “A Schooner in Calm Sea” 8x10 ($30-$50,000). Sold – $148,125.
5/21/02 Phillips “American Schooner Under Heavy Sail” 16X24 ($150-$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-$250,000). Sold - $310,000. Foster Collection.
5/21/02 Phillips “View of Boston Harbor” 9x11 ($125-$150,000). Sold - $552,000. Foster Collection.
12/3/98 Sotheby’s “Shipping Scene at Boston” 15x24 ($80-$120,000). Sold -$112,500.
Price: $125,000
