Catalog entry

Commentary

This lithograph was published by Albert Conant, who also made the original sketch. Lane transferred that sketch to the lithographic stone, and the lithograph was printed by Lane & Scott.

This view is based on a drawing by Albert Conant and portrays the center of Newburyport from across the Merrimac River at a landing in Salisbury. Looking southwesterly, the center of view lies between the domed steeple of the Harris Street Church (left) and the lofty spire of the Pleasant Street Church (right). Here is a seaport at its zenith, with several busy shipyards at the city’s west end (not seen), while the prominently displayed business district is dominated by coastal, foreign, and inland (by river) trade (1).

Away from the river, manufacturing was a growing economic presence, initiated by fine woodwork, silverware, and later textiles. This was to dwindle along with shipbuilding and maritime trade as railroads and canals drew industries to Boston and away from surrounding cities. At the time of Conant’s visit, Newburyport’s fortunes were still on the rise with another four decades to come before its shipbuilding industry came to an end (2).

The Salisbury shoreline in the foreground is no less interesting than the city across the river. The piles of milled barrel staves and a partially assembled cask are indicative of a very busy cooperage serving a very active trade in rum and molasses on the far side of the river. The neatly bundled and stacked staves are of varying lengths suitable for different sizes of barrels, casks, and kegs, examples of which can be seen on the grass at right of center.

In drawing the images on stone, Lane no doubt trusted the accuracy of Conant’s depictions of buildings and the city’s skyline. In the vessels, however, we see Lane’s hand in the accuracy of ships’ hull forms, rigging, and above all the sails. Note the packet sloop in the right foreground, its sails partially hoisted to dry, the patches in the main sail’s peak, and the shadows of the folds in both sails.

Lane was working in partnership with John W. A. Scott when he rendered Conant’s drawing on stone, but the printed work – also produced by Lane and Scott – was published by Conant.

–Erik Ronnberg

References:

1. Robert K. Cheney, “Maritime History of the Merrimac – Shipbuilding” (Newburyport, MA: Newburyport Press, Inc., 1964).

2. Editor Claude M. Fuess, “The Story of Essex County” (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1935). Vol. I, Chapter IX: “Ships and Shipping,” by Robert K. Vietor; Vol. I, Chapter XI: “Later Industries,” by Robert K. Vietor.

Supplementary Images

Viewpoint map showing direction and angle of view. From U.S. Coast survey chart of Newburyport Harbor.