Portrait of Captain Peter Coffin

ArtistAttributed to Mr Isaac Sheffield (British, 1785 - 1866)

Date1833 - 1840

Object number00019489

NamePainting

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 845 × 714 mm, 3.6 kg, 63 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionThis painting depicts the American whaling Captain Peter Coffin sitting in an arm chair holding a copy of Bowditch Navigator (an encyclopaedia of Navigation). Coffin's three-masted vessel the COLUMBUS can be seen just behind the Captain, flying the American flag. Coffin was active in the Pacific region and present on a number of whaling ships. HistoryCaptain Peter Coffin was a descendant of the original Nantucket settler Tristan Coffin, and master and log keeper onboard several whaling ships that visited the South Pacific. During his later years Coffin left the whaling industry to work onboard commercial sailing ships. Coffin was the first officer onboard many trips between San Francisco and Sydney in the mid-1850s. When the JULIA ANN wrecked in 1855 he was the first officer onboard.SignificanceThis is a good example of a 19th century portrait featuring a sea Captain who visited a number of fisheries in the South Pacific.