Catalog entry

Commentary

Lane designed this sheet music cover for Moore's Lithography. It was published by Parker & Ditson. Some impressions do not have the title "Capt. E.G.Austin's Quick Step" across the top. (e.g. A Yankee Ship and a Yankee Crew, 1837 (inv. 531))

The setting for this view of Boston Harbor is Governor’s Island on the east side of the harbor’s Main Ship Channel. Looking west, the city skyline unfolds with the dome of the State House as the focal point. It is a setting Lane used often in his later depictions on canvas of the harbor and its vessels. Governor’s Island had been the site of a fort since 1808, initially named Fort Warren but changed to Fort Winthrop in 1834 (1).

Most of Lane’s views from this location are closer to sea level, but in this case, the island’s steep western slope provided the foreground for the depicted military review – presumably by the band and troops of the Boston Light Infantry. (See chart)

At anchor in the channel is a large American frigate which, by its profile, could only be U.S.S.Constitution. Closer examination of this image has found seventeen gun ports on her main battery deck, not sixteen that appear on plans of the vessel. Also, the full-length figure of Andrew Jackson is depicted vaguely, if at all, on her beakhead. President Jackson was a controversial figure in Boston long after his passing, and the ship’s figure was partially sawn off while new (2). Lane may well have modified his depiction of “Old Ironsides” so the composer and publisher could avoid controversy. That matter aside, Lane’s portrayal of the frigate is quite accurate, given the image’s size. The accuracy of detail in the rigging and the delicacy of line work are astonishing by any marine artist’s standards.

In the 20th century, Governor’s Island was leveled and joined to East Boston as ship channels and tide lands were filled to make Boston’s Logan Airport. The island’s former site is now located at the south west corner of that airfield.

–Erik Ronnberg

References:

1. Patrick J. Connelly, “Islands of Boston Harbor” (Dorchester, MA: Chapple Publishing Company, Ltd., 1932), pp. 8, 12, 13.

2. Howard I. Chapelle. “The History of the American Sailing Navy” (New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1949), pp. 129, 130, Plan 4.

3. M. V. Brewington, “Ship Carvers of North America” (Barre, MA: Barre Publishing Company, 1962), pp. 128 – 136.

Supplementary Images

Comparison of AAS editions for Inv. 468 and Inv. 531

Photo: © Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society (inv. 468 &

Comparison of AAS editions for Inv. 468 and Inv. 531

Photo: © Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society (inv. 468 &

Comparison of AAS editions for Inv. 468 and Inv. 531

Photo: © Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society (inv. 468 &

Detail from "Comparative Map of Boston Harbor" (1860) From surveys made in 1817 (shore lines and so... [more]undings in red) and 1846 – 53 (shore lines and soundings in black). Executed by the U.S. Coast Survey for the U. S. Commissioners on Boston Harbor. Courtesy of NOAA Historic Charts Collection