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Home / Historical, Books, Nature & Science / The Great Big American Auction Auction #6065 / Lot #12
LOT #12  | 
Sold on Apr 16, 2011 for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

ANTONIO NICOLO GASPARO JACOBSEN (American, 1850-1921).. The British Steamship "City of Berlin" Bound for America, circa ...

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Sold on Apr 16, 2011 for:
$20,315.00 Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
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Description

ANTONIO NICOLO GASPARO JACOBSEN (American, 1850-1921).
The British Steamship "City of Berlin" Bound for America, circa 1880s
Oil on canvas
24 x 42 inches (61.0 x 106.7 cm)
Signed lower right: A. Jacobsen . 705 . PALISADE AV. cor DIVISION ST. / WEST HOBOKEN

PROVENANCE:
Private collection, Canton, Georgia.

Known as one of America's most prolific maritime painters, Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen was born in Denmark in 1850 and emigrated to New York in 1871 to avoid serving in the Franco-Prussian War. While working as a decorator for a large safe manufacturer, Jacobsen painted portraits of the vessels coming in and out of the New York Harbor between 1876 and 1919. His dedication to this subject led him to produce over 80 reference books filled with sketches that he would use when he was commissioned to paint a specific ship. His precision, talent, and recognition from these commissions established him as the foremost reporter of American shipping in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jacobsen's success allowed him to move to a large home in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1880 where the great seafarers and maritime artists, including James Buttersworth, would gather for concerts and conversation. Jacobsen's work maintains outstanding appreciation and value and is represented in the most notable international maritime and early American art collections.

Displayed in a handsome period frame, this painting documents City of Berlin, the first Atlantic steamship to be lighted internally by electricity. In 1874 this three-masts, fifteen-knots ship won the Blue Riband award and was noted to be the fastest and one of the largest passenger ships of her time (carrying nearly 1700 passengers). City of Berlin retained her British registration after Inman was merged into the American Line, but her name was reduced to Berlin. In 1898 she was sold to the U.S. Government, and in 1921, the same year as Jacobsen's death, her existence came to an end.

This painting was found by our consignor, Susan Beecham, when she attended a liquidation sale at a local storage facility in her home state of Georgia. The twice-divorced single mom, always an antiques aficionado, knew that it was a good piece and paid less than $100 for it. The antique gods were smiling on her and, after having it cleaned and repaired, we have the beauty you see here.

Note: We expect this lot to come up for auction at approximately 1:30 pm Pacific Time. Lots are planned for approximately every 15 minutes but could vary and be faster or slower. Check HA.com/live to track the progress of the auction.


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Condition Report*: Wax re-lined and re-varnished canvas with completely stable paint film; overall craquelure, commensurate with age; under UV examination, in-painting throughout the sky; three diagonal lines of in-painting in the water; the ship is in very good condition, with only slight in-painting in the left sails and on the far right body; meticulous conservation work; frame dimensions:  31.5 x 49.5".
*Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "AS IS".

Auction Info

The Great Big American Auction #6065 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2011
16th Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 36
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 5,907

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.

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Sold on Apr 16, 2011 for: $20,315.00
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