Oil on Canvas of a Regatta on a Choppy Sea, Julian O. Davidson

#9648PP. America, Dated 1877, Julian Oliver Davidson (1853-1894), a New York artist who was born in Cumberland, Maryland, was a preeminent naval artist of the 19th century. His life and his art were almost one and the same. Ocean travels as a child took him to Cuba 5 times (once shipwrecked). He ran away from home at age 17 to work on ships sailing to the Orient and the Mediterranean and was on the first American ship to pass through the Suez Canal. Sketches he made during these experiences served as the basis of his developing artistic ability, enhanced by studies in New York City under Dutch artist Mauritz F. H. de Haas and interaction with Hudson River artists such as Homer Winslow. Most noted for his large commissioned paintings of great naval battles, he also illustrated children’s books, and Harper’s magazine published hundreds of his illustrations. But his great love was oil-on-canvas paintings such as this, of sailboats and sailing ships, including paintings of America’s Cup regattas.
This is one of his early paintings, done at age 24 in the first year he exhibited at the National Academy of Design. That was also the year he married and settled in Nyack. It already demonstrates his attention to detail, his ability to capture the effects of wind on sails based on his intimate knowledge of his subject matter, and his exceptional depictions of sea and sky. Signed and dated "Julian Davidson 1877" lower right corner. The beautiful patina of this seascape is greatly enhanced by the simple gold leaf frame. Painting appears to have been cleaned and the back waxed (see picture of back) around 30 years ago. Probably re-framed. Some crackle to the surface of the canvas only visible on close inspection, typical of paintings of this age. H 27.75 in. x W 37.75 in. x D 1 in./H 70.49 cm x W 95.89 cm x D 2.54 cm. $4,400.00