Painting U.S. Navy MK V Dive Boat Signed
U.S.NAVY
“YP” DIVE BOAT date988
OIL CANVAS by Lanard Crane
Oil Viewing area 23
3/4 x 29
Framed 28 1/2 x 34 Signed LR LANARD
Dated 1988 Presented is
an oil on canvas by a contemporary, self taught, part-time, pier head artist, Lanard Crane. Crane’s passion since childhood
has been ships and the sea and he spent much of his adult life painting them in his spare time. Mostly his subjects
were tugboats and freighters so this work of a Navy YP dive boat is one of the two examples we know of this class Navy boat.The ship portrait is
in the simple three dimensional style, of a self taught artist. The center image of a Navy MK V dive helmet
and the haze grey hull on a brilliant blue sea and overcast grey sky makes a great scene for a man’s den. The ship’s
ensign s flying from her masthead and there are four signal flags dancing on her port yard reading from the top down, November/Oscar/Quebec/possibly Numeral 3.
The white waves at her bow is frequently called a “bone in her teeth”.A heavy custom hardwood frame is included. Closeup of the YP dive boat over image of a Navy MK V helmet
ARTIST”S BIOGRAPHY: There
is no official published biography of this artist. Our research has determined the following:> Since steam power was an early childhood passion,
Crane decided to join the USCG before finishing high school.
After finishing Boiler School, he spent four years at sea in the USCG as a Boilerman. At the end of his tour, he was
driven ashore by his wife’s pregnancy and there he remained to raise his family which grew to two daughters. He became
a member of the Philadelphia Police Force and served for 23 years, 10 of which were in the Marine Unit patrolling
the Delaware River. There he really got to know the details of tugs and freighters. All his spare time was spent painting
them. After retiring in 1985, he joined the USS Olympia Cruiser Association and volunteered to help repair her steam
engine. His wife, Sandra, suggested that Holy Family College where she worked could use some help since their extensive
steam powered heating plant kept breaking down. He worked for the college part time and then full time as
their chief engineer. All his free time he spent painting ships and seascapes. As a point of pride, he said his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. An uncle rode with Gen.
George Armstrong Custer prior to the unpleasantness at Little Bighorn.Close-up of flag hoist showing
November/Oscar/Quebec/possibly Numeral 3
Close-up of Clipper Bow Section shown
over the stern section Showing smudge
under MK V dive helmetArrow points to Small tear in canvas A ship
portrait in a distinctively American style and appearance that is priced to sell!