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Off Nix’s Mate, Boston Harbor

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Collection Type

  • Art

Date

1876

GUSN

GUSN-173666

Description

An oil painting portrait of ships in Boston Harbor. The ship in the foreground is an American ship with a total of 5 flags flying (note added to paper file on 2.23.03 says 3 pennants). A yellow and white tug-boat is in front, and a brick platform is at the bottom right corner. Frame is wood with plaster ornaments decorating various borders. Entire surface of frame is gilt.

Details

Descriptive Terms

oil paintings (visual works)
canvas
oil paint (paint)
Painting

Label

"Artful Stories": New England’s economic success depended on commercial vessels such as this one, so throughout the nineteenth century proud shipowners commissioned vast numbers of such “portraits.” This U.S.-flagged vessel floats in Boston Harbor at Nix’s Mate, a tiny island identifiable by the channel marker at right. One flag indicates that a harbor pilot has come aboard, and a tugboat bobs in the foreground. Curtis added the floating debris to guide our eye deeper into the scene. Crew members are shown standing on a deck that would have actually been much lower.

Inscription

"No. / Title Off Nix's Mate, Boston Harbor / Artist Geo. Curtis / Owner Geo. Curtis / Return to Wiliam X. Everett / Price (?7)5.n Picture x Frame" (Number in price is questionable)

Associated Building

Original to Phillips House (Salem, Mass.),

Additional Identification Number

P176
FA023

Maker

Curtis, George, 1816-1881 (Artist)

Location of Origin

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Dimensions

20 8/16 x 28 6/16 x 3 6/16 (HxWxD) (inches)

Credit Line

Gift of the Stephen Phillips Memorial Charitable Trust for Historic Preservation

Accession Number

2006.44.599

Places

Boston Harbor (Massachusetts) [harbor]
Massachusetts (United States)

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