This important large work from Norton is most certainly a scene of the active waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Within its impressive boundaries, a full-rigged, wide-bodied merchant ship crests the prevailing tide to clear a headland that will soon be distant. Are these the chalky cliffs of Dover, and this ship an American headed home? Norton, true to almost all of his accomplished works, chose not to identify the specifics of the very real scene he painted.
orton's early sea experience combined with his finely honed artistic skills produced paintings that were at once captivating and filled with precise nautical realism. This work shows a fine day to be out on the water, clear and bright with excellent sailing conditions. From the crisp detail of the sailing ship in the foreground to the hint of a steamer smoking along and the stern impression of a large passenger liner on the horizon, this painting beautifully captures an uplifted sense of promise for the travels at sea.
The title, although a common phrase,represents the heart of what the artist has bestowed to the scene. It is a shining example of his repertoire that other paintings may only hope to match. Some of his finest works were painted early in his career in New York, and he later painted a substantial number in European coastal waters. It is probable that Norton himself was onboard one of the ships depicted, and caught the moment in his sketches, from which he painted this work during his New York residency. It is telling that it was owned early on by a medical college, since he also practiced in that profession after his first career at sea.
