$12,000
American School, Late 18th Century Portrait of a Ship Captain, with Distant Ship Flying an American Flag. The subject is a ship captain, reportedly with the last name of Derby, and is therefore likely the Revolutionary War patriot Captain John Derby (1741-1812), of Salem, Massachusetts. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, 48 x 38 in., in a period molded, wood frame with carved gilt liner. Condition: Relined, scattered retouch to figure and background, craquelure, scattered paint loss. Provenance: By family descent from the original owner. Note: Captain John Derby was born in 1741 to a wealthy merchant family in Salem, Massachusetts. He gained fame during the American Revolution for delivering news to England of the Battle of Lexington and the beginnings of war across the Atlantic. He was part owner of a privateer vessel, raiding the English shipping fleets. On April 4, 1783, he brought news back to Salem announcing the signing of the Treaty of Paris, and the cessation of the hostilities between Britain and the United States.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2013-03-03