With a fine depiction of sleek hulls, schooner rigs and massive spreads of sail, Buttersworth has captured in this work the essence of 19th century yacht racing in New York harbor. Commemorating the big schooner class of the New York Yacht Club, usually through direct commissions from the vessel owners was a major aspect in the legacy of marine artist James E. Buttersworth.
This painting is "pure" Buttersworth, showing precise details of the yachts and framing them beautifully against a dramatic sky. Horizontal bands of light on the water create perspective and the volume of flying spray on the bows accent the speed of both craft.
Action yacht portraits such as this are widely considered as some of the most sought after paintings by Buttersworth. His affiliation with the New York Yacht Club and his attendance at the majority of their important regattas has produced one of the finest visual records of what is known as the great age of American yachting.
