THOMAS P EMIGH

Artist William Alexander Coulter (1849-1936)

Date1908

Object number00015521

NamePainting

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 925 x 1130 mm, 10.2 kg

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Collections

Ship portraits

Terms

United States

DescriptionAn oil painting by William Alexander Coulter depicting the American bark THOMAS P EMIGH sailing in open sea, possibly the Pacific Ocean with the crew visible on deck. The four-masted vessel appears fully rigged and flies an American flag on its jigger mast. The painting was probably commissioned by the ships owner or its Captain, Mathias A Ipsen.HistoryThe THOMAS P EMIGH was a wooden hulled barquentine built in Tacoma, Washington 1901. In 1909 the vessel was credited with setting the quickest time record for a ship travelling between Honolulu and Cape Flatery, making the passage in seven days and twenty-two hours. THOMAS P EMIGH was involved in the transportation of timber between America and Australia.SignificanceThis painting is an important representation of a ship involved in the Australian lumber trade. It made frequent trips to Australia from the west coast of America.