Antonio Jacobsen (1850-1921) Oil on Board “Portrait of the Apache”, an American steam-sail luxury liner on the open sea, signed and dated lower right Antonio Jacobsen, 1906

22 in. x 36 in. Overall 28 ¾ in. x 41 ¾ in.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark November 2, 1850, he was the son of a violin maker, and although he was expected to follow his father’s footsteps, Jacobsen chose art instead and began his studies at the Royal Academy of Design in Copenhagen. After emigrating to New York in 1871 to avoid being drafted into service in the Frango-Prussian War Jacobsen went on to become one of America’s best known painters of marine subjects. In New York City he found work decorating iron safes. While so employed, he painted the vessels of the Old Dominion Steamship Line and began his life work as a specialist in steamer portraits. His prolific career spanned five decades, the result of which was approximately six thousand ship portraits.

Jacobson’s work is included in many museum collections throughout the United States including the New York Historical Society, the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut and Peabody Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.