Anthony (A.D.) Blake
(b. 1951)
Over the last 50 years Marine Art has become a worldwide phenomenon with marine art societies being formed in countries all over the world as more artists and collectors have been drawn to this compelling art form. It comes as no surprise that in New Zealand - where Sailing is King – that marine art has developed an unusually passionate following. Chief among its artists is A.D. Blake (or Tony as he’s known to me). Throughout the world of sailing, the Blake family is considered sailing royalty- Tony’s brother, Sir Peter Blake (1945-2001) was knighted for his successes in the America’s Cup, the Whitbread Round the World Race and other major regattas. Peter’s daughter Anna, is an Olympic Silver Medalist. Tony is the former Chairman of the New Zealand Classic Yacht Association, and his own daughter is also a successful competitive sailor. It’s no wonder The New York Yacht Club and the Herreshoff Museum have called on Tony to paint his dramatic, classic yacht racing scenes for books and prints.
Click on any of the images for painting dimensions and pricing
Yacht AMERICA Crossing U.S.S. CONSTITUTION, Newport, RI, 1865
ENDEAVOUR II vs RANGER, The start of the 3rd America's Cup Race, 1937
AMERICA and Sloop of War MARION leave Boston in the Summer of 1863
Steel-Hulled Four-Masted Barque PEKING Rounding Cape Horn, c. 1912
DEFENDER to Windward of VALKYRIE III During the First Race of the America's Cup, September 7, 1895
CONSTELLATION on Long Island Sound, 1895
Early Morning Venice, The Entrance to the Grand Canal, mid-1700's
GLORIANA and MINERVA tack out of the Eastern Yacht Club Anchorage, Marblehead, MA, c. 1901
DAUNTLESS at the Start of the Transatlantic Race
12 Meters WEATHERLY and GRETEL
RANGER Leads the J-Class Fleet
AMERICA Sails into Newport
The AMERICA passing the VICTORIA and ALBERT
BOLERO, Crossing the finish line
GLORIANA, Followed by WASP and GRACIE
A Close Race. AURORA, BEATRICE and AMERICA
SACHEM Leads ALCACA and ALERT
RANGER Leads the J-Class Fleet
A.D. Blake's paintings vary from portrayals of thoroughly researched historic harbor and ocean yachting events to the present day Americas Cup. Blake has an innate sense of being able to capture the feeling of the light, the atmosphere and the interaction of the yachts, water and sky. This is complemented by the accurate and intricate details of the yachts.
One of the world's foremost marine artists, Blake's thorough understanding of the sea is the result of having spent most of his life on the coast of New Zealand. He was a nationally competitive racer and has designed some of his own boats. He still actively races small boats and cruises in his yacht around New Zealand and internationally.
Many private and corporate collectors in the U.S.A., Canada, British Virgin Islands, Britain and New Zealand have acquired Blake’s works. Notably, to celebrate their 150th anniversary, the New York Yacht Club commissioned him to produce a painting of the Club's first regatta on the Hudson River; one of Blake's historic paintings has been bought by the Herreshoff Maritime Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island and the Storm Trysail Yacht Club, among others, has commissioned him several times to produce paintings.
Some of A.D.Blake's paintings are featured in the book Yachts on Canvas by James Taylor, the assistant curator of paintings in the Greenwich National Maritime Museum in London. Three of his paintings were reproduced in the official America's Cup Program (for the 1999/2000 regattas). Also, one of his paintings was used in the program for the prestigious Cowes Jubilee Regatta to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the America's Cup race.
Having graduated from Auckland University Engineering School with an award for the top Master's Degree (MEng.1st Class Honors) in 1975, Blake has since left his career as a Civil Engineer and has devoted his time to his maritime paintings.