In a rare departure from his classic ship portraiture, Jacobsen has filled this narrative work with warm luminism and soft coloration quite uncharacteristic in the majority of his work. Reminiscent in style of American luminists such as Fitz Henry Lane and Francis A. Silva, this unique painting presents us with one of the only known romantic views from Jacobsen's substantial volume of over 8,000 cataloged paintings.
Although Jacobsen painted the sea in many moods, from calm to stormy, it is seldom the artist depicted water as shimmering and reflective as this. The warm tones and graduated color in the sky further enhance the soft atmosphere and gentle mood infused in this unusual and appealing Jacobsen work. It is to be considered an important example of his often overlooked fine artistic skills.
The image shows a hard working 19th Century lumber schooner ghosting along in light air with main and fore sails set wing and wing. Carrying a full deck load of timber, the ship is depicted just off Fort Wadsworth at the edge of Staten Island in the mouth entrance to New York Harbor across from Brooklyn. A three masted brigantine is at anchor on her port bow while a sail/steam vessel heads out to starboard. A complete marine narrative setting of artistic luminosity and historic subjects in a timeless view of beauty.
