Ice Sailing

 

This scene of a flapper couple ice yachting with the unexpected help of a pierrot deckhand was presumably created as a cover painting for Collier's magazine. One of many sporting scenes by the prolific early 1900s Golden Age of illustration American artist Orson Lowell, this has his signature bold and colorful style. The geometric precision recalls the work of Herbert Paus, as does the cutting edge innovation seen in the boat. The scene is set atop the sea with seagulls in flight above, upon close inspection it becomes apparent that this illustrates ice sailing or ice boating. The concept was introduced in the late 1800s and by the 1920s when this painting was created the pursuit had a loyal following in the upper eastern seaboard.

 

 

Painting is in a very fine state of conservation,and signed lower left. Verso bears the text "Painted by Orson Lowell - USA," back stretcher bar has pencil writing that is very hard to read but appears to say Cover for Collier's, we have not yet been able to locate the exact usage. Nicely framed in a period wide profile antique gold frame.