ITEM# 4566
This painting depicts the Sabine, an 1855 American Civil War frigate, and the Franklin, a 1797 French Tonnant-class ship of the line (named for Benjamin Franklin), meeting in the Mediterranean port of Ville Franche in 1869. The Sabine was on a midshipman training cruise and the aging Franklin was assigned to harbor duty. This painting depicts the crews of both ships, and the beautiful port of Ville Franche. The painting is annotated at the lower left "Ville Franche" Dec 16 1869 Sabine. It is signed at the lower right Franklin W. R. May USN. The frame measures 44 and one half inches by 31 and one half inches, and the canvas measures 26 inches by 40 inches. This is an important depiction of American maritime history painted by one of the crew members. The painting was purchased from a New London, CT, estate, over 40 years ago. It was restored in 1998 by Lance Mayer and Gay Myers, the conservators for the Lyman Allen Museum in New London, CT. According to their notes, they consolidated insecure paint; removed a heavy grime layer and deteriorated varnish; mended three tears; relined the canvas; mounted it to a new stretcher; filled and inpainted losses at the tears; and varnished it. All processes and materials used are reversible. These links will provide more detailed history of the two ships: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ship_Franklin_(1797) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sabine_(1855)