OIL PAINTING SCHOONER YACHT AMERICA 1851
OIL PAINTING SCHOONER YACHT AMERICA IN SUPERB DETAIL Oil on canvas 19″ L x 15 1/4″ H
Framed 22″L x 18 1/2″ H
Presented is an original oil painting on
canvas of the famous racing yacht America whose accomplishment gave birth to the enduring international America’s Cup competition.
The aged looking painting is heavily crackled and handsomely framed in period style gilded wood.
The painting is done by an artist trained in the style of the period who is a master of his craft. Consequently,
It should be considered of recent vintage. The artist captures the beauty of this sleek black hull and its raked masts. The
burgee of the New York Yacht Club fly’s from her mainmast, and the U.S. ensign from the main gaff peak. She is shown in a
fresh breeze, cutting though the chops with all sails set under a cloudy bright sky of brilliant blues and white.BRIEF HISTORY OF SCHOONER
AMERICA:On August 22, 1851, the low black schooner (2-masted sailboat) America sailed
around the Isle of Wight in a race to win a silver ewer (pitcher) from the Royal Yacht Squadron. Beating 14 other yachts to
the finish, America won the contest.At first, America‘s crew considered melting down their prize, valued at Â
£100 (100 English pounds), to make commemorative medals of their victory. What they did with the trophy instead laid the foundation
for what has become the longest contested trophy in international sport.The crew donated their trophy to the New York Yacht Club, under the condition that
the cup “be preserved as a perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries,” and the America’s
Cup race was born. From 1870, the next time the race was held, until 1980, American yachts won the America’s
Cup race 24 times without a loss (the race is held irregularly). The Australian yacht Australia II finally took the
cup when it won the race in 1983. Although Americans regained the cup in the next race (in 1987), non-American challengers
have won the cup three times since 1983. New Zealand just became the first non-American club to successfully defend the Cup
with its victory in America’s Cup 2000.
