This artwork, emulating the premier paintings of James Edward Buttersworth, and actually signed somewhat feintly in the lower right corner as "J.E. Buttersworth", is an old application of watercolor and oil wash on top of a period photograph of a painting. This is significant if only for the quality of the work, and is more so due to the content and context of the subjects. Shown along a stretch of the Hudson River, two members of the Hudson River Yacht Club compete head-to-head, their club burgees and individual red and blue identity pennants clearly visible. A club facility with two smoking chimneys, docks and people line the headland. The primary clubhouse was in the Paedegat Basin of Brooklyn, established in 1875.
A third vessel in the water, with a complete contingent of crew watching the match, serve as a marker, most likely the finish, with the large American Flag flying proudly on the staff raised on their bow. The yachts are of a catboat design, with the deep compartment and smooth planked topsides, but with six man crews and external running gear, they are larger Eastern Sandbaggers, the personal yachts of choice as the era of the great racing schooners and sloops of the American East begin to take the stage.
The high elevation of the coastal land makes one think of the works of James Bard and his dynamic marine folk art portraits along this waterway, which is confirmed in the distinct club swallowtail burgee of white and red with three stars. It is a fun and dynamic yacht racing scene, and we believe that possibly Buttersworth found favor with it, and painted it in his time.
