Holding the lines: A clipper ship reefed-down and riding out the gale

The son and pupil of Thomas Buttersworth (1768-1842), James followed his father in his profession and worked in a fairly similar style. Nevertheless, because he was brought up in a time of peace, James Buttersworth painted general shipping and yachting scenes, such as this image, rather than the battle pictures which had characterised his father's early work (see lot 24). He emigrated to America (between 1845-1847) where he settled in West Hoboken, near New York. Buttersworth remained in New Jersey for the rest of his life, exhibiting at the American Art Union from 1850. His work is justly well-represented in museums and art galleries across the United States.