Oil on canvas                                                                                    Signed H. Parker LL

Unframed 35 1/2" L x 25 1/2" H                                                      Framed 46"L x 34" H

 

Presented is an original oil painting on canvas of two of the Great 90 Footers racing for the America's Cup. The painting could be that of Valkyrie III and Defender during race of 1895.

 

The  race between the English challenger "VALKYRIE" against America's "DEFENDER" took race took place in New York Bay in September, 1895. The brilliant painting is handsomely framed in period style gilded wood. The painting is done by an artist trained in the style of the period who is a master of his craft, but should be considered of recent vintage. The artist is unlisted captures, and we have no biographical data, but we have other of his paintings of ship portraits, all of which are outstanding.  This scene captures the excitement of sailing side by side in a fresh breeze, cutting though the chop with all sails set under a cloudy bright sky of brilliant blues and white.

 

 

 

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GREAT 90 FOOTERS:

The yachts in this painting are of the America's Cup 1893-1903 Class, known as the great 90-footers, which includes some earlier ones that had a single mast. The vessels in this class with a 90 foot waterline length were:

Pictured is a model of COLUMBIA of 1899.

 

1893 VIGILANT vs. VALKYRIE II
1895 DEFENDER vs. VALKYRIE III
1899 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK 
1901 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK II

 

 

 

During the races, Lord Dunraven, the owner of "VALKYRIE" became agitated. He began a controversy by announcing he felt the Americans had cheated because "DEFENDER" won all three races. The controversy was so great that nobody could imagine the America's Cup would continue in the future… Lord Dunraven's second failure, and the additional controversy that followed, put an end to his yachting career. "VALKYRIE" was moored and did not sail for many years.

Following the Great 90 footers came the Universal Rule which gave birth to the J Class racing yachts of the 1930's. It was adopted in 1920. The class was selected for America's Cup racing in 1928.

 

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