$26,000
William Bradford (American, 1823-1892) The Coast of Labrador Unsigned, identified on a label from William Vareika Fine Arts, Newport, affixed to the reverse. Oil on canvas, 18 x 30 in. (45.7 x 76.2 cm), framed. Condition: Lined, retouch, craquelure, surface grime. N.B. William Bradford, one of the preeminent Marine painters of the 19th century, was born and raised near the harbor town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Against the wishes of his strict Quaker parents, he pursued a career in painting. Initially self-taught, Bradford began to study with Dutch painter Albert Van Beest in the late 1850s, and the two artists frequently collaborated. Starting in 1861, Bradford made a series of trips to Labrador and the Arctic, where he was profoundly influenced by the bright light and vivid colors of the region. His paintings of the Arctic contain rich detail in sailing vessels and fishermen while at the same time they capture the expressiveness of the clouds, water, and ice formations. This rich scenery and atmospheric light remained a constant source of inspiration for Bradford throughout his career.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2007-11-16
