An American ship and her crew arrive with fanfare and to greetings of welcome home in this important vignette by Julian O. Davidson. The large ship is being escorted by a sidewheel steam tug flying a Blue Star swallowtail burgee of the Line. Evidentially the completion of a lengthy journey, Davidson commemorated the arrival in Greater New York Bay area in this long-lost original, which is a well-known image as one of three of his paintings chosen to be reproduced as a steel plate engraving by Wellstood & Co of New York in 1883. It is a rewarding piece of art, with its outstanding coloration and detailed composition.
With the tug preparing to lead the ship to port, her crew is active all over her deck and high in the yards, stowing the sails and battening down. They are distinctly dressed in formal blues, possibly naval uniforms, and the ship flies an American naval ensign with its circled star pattern while also flying a house flag, and its identity revealing International Merchant Code which is partially obscured by the tug smoke. We feel this is likely an instance of a commercial merchant vessel serving in government duty with servicemen employed. Ambassadors and American mail both traveled by this means, and the Navy Intelligence Officers are first established in this year, 1882, traveling amongst all degrees of maritime crews. Met not only by the pilot tug, but a rowed long boat with a man hailing the arrival. Davidson himself voyaged to many of the world's distant oceans, and firsthand knew the anticipation of final sighting home.
