Homeward Bound: "The Great Eastern"
The Met
Artist: Robert Charles Dudley(British, 1826–1909)
Date: ca. 1866
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 44 3/4 x 67 1/4 in. (113.7 x 170.8 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Cyrus W. Field, 1892
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Black and white image of a busy harbor with sailing ships, a steamship, and small boats
Detailed Description
The black and white painting presents a busy harbor scene, featuring numerous vessels under a cloudy sky. In the upper portion, the sky is light with visible cloud formations. On the right side, a dark, hilly coastline with scattered buildings and trees recedes into the distance. The midground features several large ships. On the far left, a multi-masted sailing ship with full sails is partially visible. To its right, a large, dark-hulled sailing ship with three masts and numerous sails is prominent, angled slightly towards the viewer. Behind it, another similar sailing ship is visible. In the center, a very large steamship with a dark hull, multiple funnels emitting smoke, and several masts with some sails is positioned, its stern facing the viewer's left. Further right, another large sailing ship is visible closer to the distant shore. The foreground and lower midground are filled with many smaller boats. These include several rowboats with multiple figures, some actively rowing, and smaller sailboats with single masts and sails. People are visible in most of these boats. On the far right, a cluster of small boats is near the shore, with figures standing and sitting. On the far left, a few birds fly low over the calm water, which reflects the ships and sky with subtle ripples. The overall tone is muted, with strong contrasts between the dark hulls of the ships and the lighter sails and sky.
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