Master Mariner Moses Nickerson, son of Ezra Nickerson, was born in 1812, and died at sea in 1871. The Nickerson family is quite prominent throughout Barnstable County which encompasses all of Cape Cod. The family is primarily descended from William Nickerson (1604 Inches1689), founder of the town of Chatham. Captain Nickerson's home is one of Cape Cod's historic landmarks and is preserved as a popular Bed and Breakfast Inn at Chatham.
The Nickersons are legendary throughout the New England whale fishery. A well-known and respected whaling captain, Moses Nickerson commanded numerous whale ships. His young cousin, Thomas Nickerson was the 15 year-old cabin boy aboard the famous whale ship ESSEX that was sunk by a sperm whale in 1820 and became the basis for Herman Melville's Moby Dick and is a main character in the 2015 film "In the Heart of the Sea".
Between 1840 and 1850 Moses Nickerson was known to have owned or captained five whale ships: 130 ton Schooner R. S. SOPER, 80 ton Schooner E. R. COOK, 130 ton Schooner WALTER ERWIN, 162 ton Brig GEM and 130 ton Brig ENOCH NICKERSON.
Included with the painting is an original letter, written from Captain Nickerson to his wife dated July 12th, 1863. In it, he details preparations for the voyage he is about to undertake from Belfast, Ireland back home to Cape Cod, Massachusetts aboard his ship MARY EDSON. Photos of the letter and a copy of the text are shown here.
The first chapter in any history of American art will relate that the earliest paintings done here were traditional portraits of American Sea Captains. The sources for the New World's indigenous art, may be traced to America's dependence and development of the Maritime culture. Paintings of this quality are highly sought after by knowledgeable collectors and museums world-wide.
Charles Cohill (1812-1860) was a Pennsylvania artist who studied under John Neagle and specialized in oil portraits such as this fine example. Cohill portrays a young Captain Nickerson aged 34 years, in a frock coat, white shirt and cravat holding a two-draw mahogany and brass telescope.
Both Cohill and his subject were the same age at the time of this sitting. Saluting medieval tradition, the small vignette to the left shows a ship, likely one of the Captain's whalers, heading out to sea under full sail. Direct and unpretentious, this portrait shows the artist's use of full lighting on the face to enhance features and suggest personality. The subtle luminosity suffuses the background and adds depth overall. This portrait was created to outlast Moses Nickerson's mortality, and it has succeeded admirably.
