In this important depiction of the very first America's cup defense held on August 8, 1870, the New York Yacht Club schooner MAGIC is shown leading the fleet, followed closely by DAUNTLESS, owned by James Gordon Bennet, also of the N.Y.Y.C. the British challenger CAMBRIA is probably the vessel trailing DAUNTLESS. MAGIC crossed the finish line 39 minutes ahead of CAMBRIA to retain the cup.
Of interesting historical note is that the American schooners MAGIC and DAUNTLESS were originally built as sloops and later converted to this rig. The fourth vessel shown in this fine work is believed to be the schooner AMERICA who originally won the cup that bears her name in England in 1851.
In classic Buttersworth fashion, these yachts are shown with strong sensitivity to the sailing conditions and the artist's trademark skill at portraying the stylized details of the vessels themselves. Over the years, Buttersworth developed a strong affiliation with the New York Yacht Club and was able to record many of the most famous yachts of the period in his paintings.
