Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "Canadian Icebreaker - Arctic" Signed lower left. Original Oil Painting on Masonite.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Canadian 14c Robinson Ice Vessel stamp issued November 15, 1978.

Thick pack ice chokes nearly half of the Northwest Passage throughout the year. Visibility is often obscured by whiteouts of blowing snow. Thick fog shrouds the open waters during the brief summer. Little is known about Arctic currents and tides, and the water can freeze a man to death in two minutes. Yet, Canada's ice vessels were among the first to chart and explore the vast, remote Passage, which was once hoped to be a commercial sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. One such early ice vessel was the Arctic. German built in 1901 of oak and pitch pine, she was immensely strong and fully square-rigged on the foremast. She could carry enough coal to hold out for two years or more, and could be driven forward at seven knots, by an economical steam engine. In 1904, Coast Guard Captain Joseph Bernier purchased the 165-foot German vessel. He challenged the frozen archipelago in the Arctic, and in 1906 Bernier proclaimed Canadian sovereignty over much of the far north. Reaching as far west as Arctic Point on Melville Sound, Bernier landed the Arctic several times to carry out a brief formality of Canadian dominion which included hoisting the Canadian flag. Joseph Bernier's achievements are great but seldom acclaimed. In exploring the vast regions which had been ceded to Canada, Captain Bernier and the Arctic proudly demonstrated the sovereignty of his country.

Image Size: 19.5 x 20.5 in.
Overall Size: 22 x 26 in.
Unframed.
(B06164)

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22 x 26 in