Mauritz F.H. de Haas
An able sailor guides a fine sloop through the choppy waters of a busy American port in this work by Dutch-American artist Maurtiz DeHaas. Given the sailor's hat, what appears to be an oilskin hat sometimes called a Cape Ann sou'wester, it's likely we're in New England- a common subject for the artist's American period. At the stern, two gentlemen sit comfortably, one with his hand on the ship's tiller arm. It appears to be a pleasant sail for the two men, dressed well in suits with a pop of stark white at their necks and cuffs and well mustachioed as was fashionable for the period. Their vessel is of quality and well maintained with nice gold and blue details at the bow, and small portholes giving light to the compartment below.
DeHaas was particularly known for harbor and shore views such as this one. The artist brings his skill for detail and accuracy from his training in the Dutch Marine tradition and marries it with the attention to light and atmosphere in the style of the great American maritime artists like Bradford and Lane.
The small craft is surround by other vessels. To the left, a large steam-sail ship sends up a plume of dark smoke as she moves at speed toward the busy shipping lane at the painting's right. There, a three-masted frigate sails away from us, giving us a slight glimpse of her ornate stern gallery with her sails full in the strong wind. Behind that, a large schooner sails in the opposite direction, and behind both a host of other vessels large and small.
The sea is active with high waves which allow DeHaas to display his talent for creating translucent touches, adding great depth to the painting as a whole. It's a work both pleasing and typical of its period for the artist when he was at his later career best, marrying the best of both European and American art styles. In very good condition and housed in a period style fine quality 22k gilt frame.
