Coastal Scene at Sunset with Ships
by James Hamilton (1819–1878)7⅜ x 11 inches
Signed indistinctly lower right
Provenance
Private collection
Sale, Cordier Auctions, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 2022, lot 91, from above
Private collection, New York, New York, acquired from above
Related Works
A Fresh Breeze, 1856, oil on canvas, 20 x 30 inches; Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, Delaware
The Ancient Mariner, 1863, oil on canvas, 47 x 72⅛ inches; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Note: James Hamilton is best recognized for his striking maritime depictions. This work highlights the artist’s mastery of light, as the orange light gleams across the horizon and reflects onto the dark waves.
Artist Biography
James Hamilton was one of America’s first marine painters, celebrated for his striking harbor views and sailing scenes. Inspired by the work of J.M.W. Turner, Hamilton cultivated a dramatic repertoire of naval battles, storms, and shipwrecks, punctuated by bursts of brilliant color and blazing light. His Romantic work earned him a reputation as “the American Turner” and popularized seascapes for American artists and audiences.
Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Hamilton moved to the United States with his family at the age of fifteen and established his career in Philadelphia. Supported by a wealthy patron and encouraged by local artists, he attended drawing