Paintings

The Seaport Museum’s paintings collection includes a vast variety of works, many by renowned marine painters of the 19th and 20th century, including James E. Buttersworth (1817–1894), Gordon Grant (1875–1962), Antonio N.G. Jacobsen (1850–1921) and Samuel Walters (1811–1882). The paintings depict seascapes, harbor views, ships, and captain and merchant portraits. The collection focuses on 19th and 20th century oil paintings that illustrate the importance of international commerce in New York Harbor during the “Golden Age of Sail.” 

Highlights of the Museum’s rich painting collection include the work of Danish/American artist Antonio N.G. Jacobsen (1850–1921) who was a prolific artist and is believed to have painted around 6,000 works throughout his life between sketching and working at the Battery, and getting shipowners to commission him painting to commemorate their boats including steamship companies such as The Old Dominion, The Fall River Line, and The White Star Line.