CARL JUSTUS HARMEN FEDELER German (1799-1858)
Oil on canvas, titled "Whaling in the South Seas" signed and dated lower right "CJ Fedeler Pinx 1843". Hand printed and labeled on the reverse "Eigenthum J.M.D. Konigin". The painting depicts an active whaling scene with a whaleboat with whalemen facing towards a sperm whale about to harpoon the whale. Beyond the whale is another whaleboat and a ship further in the distance. Just to the right is another whaleboat with colorfully dressed whalemen, one with harpoons at the bow and another at the stern holding the steering oar.
At the bow of the boat is the ships logo with the initials “CE”. At the center of the painting is a detailed port profile of the ship. The ship’s name “Krohprima Grin” ? is painted on the bow. The name is also shown on a red blowing banner at the peak of the main mast. The British flag with a white painted horse appears at the center of the flag. The rigging and sails are very detailed. The ship is carrying three whaleboats on her port side and there are two more stored upside down on the ship’s deck. To the far right is an additional whaleboat with crew having thrown 2 harpoons into a baleen whale and is making ready to throw a third. Beyond the whaleboat is a detailed depiction of another whale ship sailing at an angle towards the viewer. There are a few birds flying around each whale. The whale on the left is breaching water and the one on the right is breaching blood. The sky is a bright blue color with scattered white clouds. The painting is one of the most beautiful whaling scenes we have examined with its brilliant color. (PA 1093)
Condition: The painting is in excellent condition. It was lined several years ago and has only minor touch ups around the stretcher line and is on the original stretcher.
Note: A very similar painting was illustrated on the cover of The Richard Bourne Auction catalogu, dated August 1 and 2 August 1978. The painting was listed as Lot 671 and states "The painting depicts the American Whale Ship Trident of New Bedford and was signed C.J. Fedeler 1846".
Dimensions: Height 24 3/4 inches, Width 36 1/16 inches.
Frame Dimensions: Stretcher Height 24 3/4 inches, Width 36 1/16 inches - Sight Height 24 inches, Length 35 3/8 inches.
