The Barque Leila of Quebec, February 20, 1874, Capt. William Tait

Artist James Buttersworth (American, 1817 - 1894)

Date1874

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed: 24 1/8 x 34 1/8 inches (61.29 x 86.69 cm)
Framed: 30 x 40 x 1 7/8 inches (76.2 x 101.6 x 4.75 cm)

Credit LineGift of Jean Francisco

Object numberR2012.1

SignedLower right, in oil.: J E Buttersworth

On View

Not on view

Collections

American Art

Terms

DescriptionThe painting depicts five sailing vessels and a small row boat under stormy skies and against a backdrop of white cliffs. A barely visible small boat without its sails unfurled appears anchored in the background near the painting’s left edge. Closer to the picture plane, also near the left edge of the painting, is a craft with two sails. The word “Dover” is spelled out in blue on the larger of its two sails. A three-masted ship, the Leila of Quebec, dominates the middleground of the composition just off center and is the focus of the painting. (The Leila of Quebec was an English vessel built in Quebec, Canada, in 1873 and captained by William Tait.) The ship has all but one of its sails unfurled and billowing as it moves from right to left across the canvas, while sailors labor on its deck. The flag of Quebec (a white cross against a blue field) flies atop the foremast and a long, red pennant-type flag bearing the ship’s name in white letters flies from the main mast. A red flag with the red, white, and blue Union Jack in its corner (the Merchant Navy ensign) flies from the mizzen mast. Three triangular sails on the bowsprit also catch the wind as the ship speeds across the choppy, white-capped waves. Three sailors row a boat near the right edge of the picture in front of another three-masted ship that sails farther in the distance. A fifth vessel sails at the horizon line at the right edge of the painting. Pink-tinged clouds and blue sky near the top of the composition give way to gathering dark clouds that offset the ivory sails of the Leila of Quebec. Seagulls play above the waves in the foreground, while white cliffs, possibly the Cliffs of Dover, rise from the water in the background. Nestled into the cliffs near the left edge of the picture is a small village of red-roofed houses. What is likely Dover Castle is suggested in the far distance, above and to the right of the village, just to the left of the painting’s center.

Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.