ARTIST: Charles Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988)
NAME: Sail Ship - Battleship of the 50 States - U.S.S. Minnesota
YEAR: 1986
MEDIUM: oil on board
CONDITION: Excellent. No visible inpaint under UV light.
SIGHT SIZE: 14 x 16 inches / 35 x 40 cm
BOARD SIZE: 21 x 22 inches / 53 x 55 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting was published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the U.S.S. Minnesota. The wooden steam frigate U.S.S. Minnesota served with distinction as the flagship of the Union's Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War. Originally commissioned on 21 May 1857 with Captain S.F. Dupont in command, the U.S.S. Minnesota began her career as a member of the East India Squadron. She carried U.S. Minister to China William B. Reed to the Treaty Conference in China and returned him home, arriving in Boston Navy Yard 2 June 1859. She was then decommissioned and remained in Boston until the outbreak of the Civil War. The U.S.S. Minnesota was recommissioned 2 May 1861 with Captain G.J. Van Brunt in command. As flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, U.S.S. Minnesota had achieved lasting fame on 14 May 1861 off Hampton Roads, Virginia. That day, she captured three Confederate Schooners laden with supplies. The Mary Willis, Delaware Farmer and Emily Ann, were all taken. During the next five weeks, the U.S.S. Minnesota went on to capture the barks Winfred and Sally Ann as well as the Mary Warick and the schooner Sally Mears. In August of 1861, she participated in the Army-Navy expedition against the Confederate forts at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. Barely six months later, the U.S.S. Minnesota was grounded as she engaged a number of Confederate warships off Newport News.
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation
NAME VARIANTS: Charles Lurdgren
CATEGORY: antique vintage painting
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BIOGRAPHY:
Fine marine painting is much more than the illustration of ship and water. It is the evocation of salt and tar, wind and sail, the light, the movement of water ... the affinity of man and sea. As an experienced yachtsman, historian of the sea, as well as an acclaimed marine artist, Charles Lundgren captured this complex harmony in his paintings.Looking every bit the part of the ancient mariner, himself, Lundgren's love and respect for deep water was reflected in every painting. Combined with his consummate skill as an artist, this resulted in marine painting at its finest. Study at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (Parsons), the Paris School of Fine and Applied Art, as well as schools in Germany and Italy, plus extensive travel throughout Europe and Africa enabled Lundgren to develop his talents and perfect his technique.One art critic praised him with these words: "He is, in my eyes, much more than a painter of the sea. He is a believer in it. A historian of the days when men reached new continents by sail and stars alone." Lundgren's painting skills were sought by individuals - he often painted "portraits" of the boats and ships owned by the rich and the famous - as well as museums and companies.Not suprisingly, his works were acquired for such collections of Huntington Hartford, J.P. Morgan, Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Wayne, Pegeen Fitzgerald, Cornelius Walsh, George Jensen and Eric Sloane.