Showing the clipper on a broad reach, this portrait of the American medium clipper WINONA carries a remarkable realism for this 20th Century marine artist. The sailing ship carries a proper amount of canvas for the existing wind, as does a like vessel on the horizon. Dawson portrays sailors active on the deck while running with only the mizzen course furled. A unique detail shows a line off the stern, likely pulling a taft rail log to determine her speed.
WINONA was built by John Courier, Jr. of Newburyport in 1862. John Jr. is the most famous of the courier shipbuilding families of Massachusetts. Possessor of the informal title "the Merrimac's greatest builder of ships" at his death, he is credited with building nearly 100 ships. He began building ships in 1831 and continued until 1883, making his firm world famous for fast, medium & large clippers.
ewburyport's Custom House records have been confirmed as incomplete for the years 1850-1864, with ships by prominent builders missing from its list. WINONA is one such vessel, according to the 1877 book "Historical Sketch of Shipbuilding on the Merrimac River," by John J. Courier. From where Dawson garnered his inspiration for this excellent work remains a mystery. This oil on canvas is most likely one of few known pictorial records.
