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Item ID :PA0670
Willis, Thomas (American 1850-1925) Exceptional oil on canvas velvet and embroidery, depicting the American tugboat GASPEE, signed and dated in red: "Tom Willis. 1913." The painting is in Willis typical style with a multi-toned green sea with ripply waves crested in white. The sky is a beautiful light blue with a band of white clouds running horizontally across the canvas above the Gaspee. The tug is centered at the horizon. The velvet hull has black velvet straking and an embroidered cove line and rail cap. The name GASPEE is embroidered on the bow. The tug has a velvet deckhouse and pilothouse. Details of the deck and pilothouses are embroidered as are the railings. The black stack has a red band made from velvet as does the lifeboat mounted above the skylight. The deckhouse roofs have embroidered detail as does the pilothouse eagle, wheelhouse flags, flagpole with an American flag and streamer. There are three embroidered figures on the deck and one in the wheelhouse. Willis tugboats are very rare and desirable. (PA-670) Condition of painting: The painting, silkwork and embroidery are in unusually fine condition. There are no losses, breaks or fading. The canvas is also bright and is untouched. Condition of frame: The painting retains its original natural wood frame, ripple glass and gold leaf cove liner. The wood frame has an untouched crackled surface and the untouched gold surface to the liner has some minor discoloration. Note: The tugboat, Gaspee, was built in Wilmington, Delaware in 1893. She was 83 feet in length, 22 feet in breadth and she drew 10 feet. In 1913, her homeport was Providence, Rhode Island.
Dimensions of painting: 17 7/8 x 26.
Dimensions of frame: 24 3/4 x 32 5/8.
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