This outstanding luminist painting represents the work of one of the great maritime artists of the Hudson River School and of New England- Mary Blood Mellen. Here Gloucester Harbor's Ten Pound Island is illuminated in shades of orange fading into the first purples of the oncoming night. The last rays of brilliant sunlight illuminate the lighthouse and building onshore, while highlighting the tops of a slight swell in the sea. The two larger vessels use the fading light to sail home, while two men aboard the smaller fishing boat in the foreground have their boat at anchor, perhaps setting their lobster traps, working to make the most of the remaining daylight.
Mellen has rightly come into her own appreciation out of the enormous artistic shadow of Fitz Henry Lane. Gloucester locations are her featured specialty, with Ten Pound Island being a favored locale, not only of hers, but of Lane's and Winslow Homer's. The best of these works present just what this one has in abundance, an evening sunset full of luminous glow, serene water and a slice of the constant effort of the mariners.
This great painting has been in Joe's Vallejo's private collection for over 30 years. This painting has been authenticated by Mellen/Lane expert John Wilmerding. It is possible that Lane had a hand in it or that it's his work but we are selling it as a Mellen.
