In a fine example of American ship portraiture, Baltimore artist Otto Muhlenfeld shows the Massachusetts-built bark ‘AMY' on a starboard tack with all sail set. At her main truck flies the owner's flag of the New York firm of Goss and Sawyer. The foremast shows her personal ship's flag while her name pennant flies from the mizzen. Beneath the American ensign on her gaff truck is a four flag international code signal identifying her by number.
Carrying four jibs and royals set above her topgallants, the bark-rigged ‘AMY' was obviously designed for speed when she was built in 1883 in Charlestown, Mass. The 700 ton vessel was 159 feet in length with a 32 foot beam and drew 16 feet of water. Goss and Sawyer used her in the Atlantic and Coastal trades.
Shown at the turn of the century, this view shows ‘AMY' most likely off Baltimore, the region where Muhlenfeld created most of his work. The sea and sky are reminiscent of Antonio Jacobsen, the New York port painter, but Muhlenfeld shows his own singular drafting skills in the depiction of the ship's lines, rig and deck detail.
