This painting of America is an undated attribution to Lane, showing the yacht under sail in three views. When, in 2009, this painting was loaned for public display for the first time at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts, it raised a number of important questions.

For Three Views, the attribution to Lane is strong for reasons of close attention to correct ship handling and details of rigging and sails. Lane was without peer (after the departure of Robert Salmon) in his attention to wind direction and velocity, making sure that cloud formations, sail trim, wave patterns, and minor details of flags, smoke from steamships, and buoy pennants are in close agreement. Similarly, the play of light on sails shows his thorough understanding of how light reveals sail contours, casts shadows on overlapping sails, and the translucency of canvas when backlit. Combining these effects with Lane's mastery of hull form and proportions of rig, we see a brilliant demonstration of Lane's mastery of nautical imagery.

circa 1850. Oil on canvas, 18-1/2 x 27-1/2 inches. Unsigned and undated. Private collection.

Cliquer sur le lien ci-dessous pour une excellente étude de ce tableau.