$5,333
American School, 19th Century Arctic Whaling Scene. Initialed and dated indistinctly "FK 188-" l.l. Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in., in a gilded and molded wood frame. Condition: Very good, minor retouch to background sky. Note: The verso bears the stamp of the firm of Schwab & Breese, 624 Market Street, San Francisco (a frame shop located in this city in the 1880s). The scene is thought to be in the western Arctic, depicting indigenous whaling as the whale has been dragged ashore and appropriately costumed figures with their sled dogs are portrayed processing the whale and attending to their daily tasks. A full-rigged ship in the background does not appear to be involved in the taking of the whale, as it does not carry the covered mast hoops that were common on Arctic whaling ships.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2011-08-14