A210: The Yacht 'America'
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© The Holburne Museum of Art, Bath
| Museum number | A210 |
| Title | The Yacht 'America' |
| Object type | In category: Pictures » Painting |
| Date | 1851 |
| People |
Fowles, Arthur Wellington (British painter ca.1815-1883) (known) - Painter(s) |
| Place of origin | Europe » Northern Europe » British Isles » Great Britain » England |
| Condition |
Excellent |
| Dimensions |
29.5 cm height sight 44.0 cm width sight 42.0 cm height frame 56.7 cm width frame 3.0 cm depth frame |
| Materials & techniques |
In categories: Pictures: Medium » Paint » Oil paint Pictures: Support » Canvas |
| Description | Seascape: two-masted racing yacht flying American flags, with two larger vessels in background to left and right. Legs of figures visible behind sails. Open sea with stormy sky. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subject |
Commemorative Marine |
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| Notes | America was a fast racing schooner designed by George Steers for The New York Yacht Club. She was the first winner in what became known as the “America’s Cup” race in 1851. Fowles was an English artist who specialised in painting yachting scenes, and may have been based on the Isle of Wight. This is one of the few paintings in the collection that are contemporary with Holburne. It is likely that he bought it direct from the artist in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, where it was painted and where Holburne regularly spent his summer holidays. It is signed and dated by the artist. He owned another seascape by Fowles, also in the museum collection, an image of the ship, the Duke of Wellington (A193). |
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| Muse theme | The Art of Collecting |
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| Muse chapter |
The History of the Holburne Collection » Sir William Holburne and his Collection » The Founder: Sir William Holburne of Menstrie (1793-1874)
Oil paintings in the Holburne Museum |
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| Gallery Label |
Arthur Wellington Fowles (1815-1883) The Yacht America Oil on canvas, 1851 The yacht America, a fast racing schooner, was designed by the American George Steers for The New York Yacht Club in 1851. The Club wanted to challenge the British, who had a reputation for yachting supremacy. After reaching England, the America raced against fifteen yachts in the annual 53-mile race around the Isle of Wight, conducted by the Royal Yacht Squadron. She won by two minutes. She won her next race, against England's fastest, the Titania by nearly an hour. Queen Victoria was told of the triumph; 'America first, Your Majesty. There is no second.' A cup was presented to the New York Yacht Club, who offered it to any yacht capable of defeating them, a challenge which has became known as the 'America's Cup'. Fowles was an English artist who specialised in painting yachting scenes, and was possibly based on the Isle of Wight. Sir William Holburne spent his summers at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and may have witnessed this exciting event. This picture hung on his staircase in Cavendish Crescent, Bath. A.210 (Unknown) 13-12-2004 |
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| Method of acquisition | Bequest | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Provenance | Presumably purchasedfrom the artist by Sir William Holburne (1793-1874); recorded in Sir William's collection by 1867; by whom by whom bequeathed to Mary Anne Barbara Holburne (1802-1882); by whom bequeathed to the Museum |
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| Exhibition history |
Title of exhibition: Town House Treasures: Sir William Holburne of Bath |
