Catalog entry

Commentary

This pencil drawing is one of Lane’s finest efforts in that medium, combining careful composition with fine detail and shading that is nearly photographic in quality. The artist’s careful signature and vignetting of the composition offer further evidence of his intention to make this a finished work instead of a sketch for a painting. A yellow border – not visible on the drawing as presently framed – is probably discoloration of the paper due to acidity in the original mat.

Four vessels are depicted, the largest of them a half brig at anchor, her sails “hanging in the gear” (partially lowered or clewed-up) to dry. The three square sails are drawn in great detail, the seams of the vertical sail cloths, the rows of reef points, the buntlines, leach lines, reef tackles, and lifts all correctly positioned.  Adding to the sense of dimension are the shaded folds and wrinkles in the canvas hanging undisturbed in the still air. The jibs, main staysail, and main gaff-topsail are delicately and sometimes deeply shaded, showing less detail yet they are no less convincing.

Rafted alongside the half brig are a large packet sloop and a coasting schooner. The sloop has received the artist’s most intensive efforts at shading and values in her hull and sails, whose shadows give depth and dimension. Most distant of the three is the coasting schooner, all but her bow and fore rigging being blocked by the other two. Here a lightness of touch provides the sense of distance with minimal sacrifice in detail and sense of dimension.

Rafting was a common practice in Gloucester Harbor, when wharfage was scarce and many coasting vessels used the harbor as a convenient place to transfer parts of their cargos to other (usually smaller) vessels. The latter would then deliver the goods to small, out-of-the-way coastal communities whose needs would not justify a large vessel’s services. The reverse process could also happen, with a large carrier picking up local produce from one or more small ports for delivery to a large one. This activity can be seen in many of Lane’s harbor scenes from New York to Penobscot Bay.

Beyond the three rafted vessels (at right) is a pinky which has come to anchor. The peak of the main sail has been dropped, but the sail may be left this way for drying prior to furling. The fore sail will probably be treated the same way, and the jib will be partially lowered. The pinky – so-named for its “pink” (Dutch for “pinched”) stern – is a fishing schooner type, descended from the Chebacco boats at the end of the 18th century. Sturdily-built, the type endured to the early 20th century .

–Erik Ronnberg

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