Boston Harbor

Boston Harbor in the 1850s proved an ideal subject for Lane. In this scene he presents different
types of ships from various perspectives—a head-on view of a large, square-rigged bark at left; a port-side view of a steamer packet moving into the scene at center; and a profile view of a sleek, sharp-hulled modern clipper at right. These and a scattering of towboats, fishing vessels, and other craft are naturally placed about the harbor, just as the artist might have observed them.