Last of the Day- Ship John Bertram

gouache, 12 1/2" x 19"

$5,000

The painting depicts the American extreme clipper ship John Bertram running on a starboard tack under moderate winds as the setting sun illuminates the storm clouds behind her.

The John Bertram was built by Ewell & Jackson of East Boston and was the pioneer ship for the Glidden & Williams Line of San Francisco-Boston packet ships.  Launched in December, 1850, she had a very sharp entry in the water as she was especially designed for speed.

 She was a 'Cape Horner' making quite a few runs from Boston to San Francisco; from there on to other ports in the Orient.  Her last run under the American flag was in 1855.  She was sold to a firm in Hamburg, Germany, where for the next nine years she sailed as a regular passenger liner between New York and Hamburg.  In the mid-1860s she was again sold and for almost 20 years worked the timber trade between Quebec and London.  She was lost in March, 1883, with her crew being rescued by another vessel.