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

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.