To
My Dear Wife
FLORENCE
THROUGH WHOSE STEADFAST FRIENDSHIP FOR
MR. AND MRS. EDWARD MORAN AND LOYAL DEVOTION
TO ME, I WAS LED TO CHAMPION, AND
ENCOURAGED TO PERSEVERE IN ESTABLISHING,
THE RIGHTS OF THE WIDOW TO THESE MASTERWORKS,
WITHOUT WHICH THE OCCASION FOR
PENNING THESE PAGES WOULD NOT HAVE ARISEN—THIS
LITTLE WORK IS LOVINGLY INSCRIBED,
ON THE
TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR MARRIAGE,
October 1st, 1904.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
| Page. | ||
| Frontispiece—Portrait of Edward Moran, from a painting by Thomas Sidney Moran | ||
| Introductory | [7] | |
| Biographical | [15] | |
| Portrait of Mrs. Edward Moran, from a painting by Thomas Sidney Moran | Facing page | [20] |
| Descriptive and Explanatory: | ||
| I. The Ocean—The Highway of All Nations | [27] | |
| II. Landing of Lief Erickson in the New World in the Year 1001 | [33] | |
| III. The Santa Maria, Niña and Pinta (Evening of October 11th, 1492) | [39] | |
| IV. The Debarkation of Columbus (Morning of October 12th, 1492) | [39] | |
| V. Midnight Mass on the Mississippi, over the Body of Ferdinand De Soto, 1542 | [47] | |
| VI. Henry Hudson Entering New York Bay, September 11th, 1609 | [53] | |
| VII. Embarkation of the Pilgrims from Southampton, August 5th, 1620 | [59] | |
| VIII. First Recognition of the American Flag by a Foreign Government. In the Harbor of Quiberon, France, February 13th, 1778 | [67] | |
| IX. Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia. In the Harbor of Tripoli, February 16th, 1804 | [73] | |
| X. The Brig Armstrong Engaging the British Fleet. In the Harbor of Fayal, September 26th, 1814 | [79] | |
| XI. Iron versus Wood—Sinking of the Cumberland by the Merrimac. In Hampton Roads, March 8th, 1862 | [87] | |
| XII. The White Squadron's Farewell Salute to the Body of Captain John Ericsson, New York Bay, August 25th, 1890 | [95] | |
| XIII. Return of the Conquerors. Typifying Our Victory in the late Spanish-American War, September 29th, 1899 | [105] | |
| Index | [111] |
[INTRODUCTORY]
T. S. M.
INTRODUCTORY.
The Thirteen Paintings, to a history and description of which (and incidentally to a brief memoir of their creator, Edward Moran) these pages are devoted, are monumental in their character and importance. Mr. Moran designated them as representing the "Marine History of the United States." I have somewhat changed this title; for even the untraversed "Ocean" and the landing of Columbus in the new world represent periods which necessarily affect the whole American Continent.
The conception of these pictures was in itself a mark of genius, for no more fitting subjects could have been chosen by the greatest marine painter in the United States than the heroic and romantic incidents connected with the sea, which are so splendidly depicted in these thirteen grand paintings. That their execution required over fifteen years of ceaseless labor and the closest historical study is not surprising. The localities, the ships, the armament, the personages, the costumes, the weapons and all the incidents connected with each epoch are minutely and correctly represented, in so far as existing records rendered that possible. And yet, interwoven with each canvas, is a tone so poetic and imaginative that stamps it at once as the offspring of genius and lifts it far above the merely photographic and realistic. The series is the result of a life of prolific production, careful study, unceasing industry and great experience.