- DeptNantucket Art
- Size28 in. x 48 in.
SHANE MICHAEL COUCH (English b. 1963) “Volunteer and Thistle in New York Harbor,” oil on canvas, painted circa 2009, signed lower right Shane Michael Couch. 28 in. x 48 in.
19th Century yacht racing over the Inner Harbor New York Yacht Club course on Sept. 27, 1887 matched General Paine’s American Sloop Volunteer against the Scottish Cutter Challenger owned by James Bell, representing the Royal Clyde Yacht Club, Thistle. The price was nothing less than the America’s Cup. Anticipating taking the lead in this first match for the Cup, Volunteer begins to overtake Thistle. Moments prior to the start the Scottish and British sailors were wagering prematurely on just how large their margin of victory would be, as Captain Hank Haff purposely held back Volunteer as they approached the line in the morning doldrums. Fog delayed the match until past noon, and the starting whistle saw Volunteer almost two minutes behind. Fifteen minutes later she passed the Scottish challenger and ended up winning the 32.6 mile race by more than 19 minutes. The headland of New York City stars alongside the racing yachts, sea and sky in this great composition by Shane Couch. With views of the Battery and South Street, the prominent buildings of the Washington Building, Aldricht Court, Standard Oil, Trinity Church and the Cotton Exchange are all identifiable.
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