Scotch Whaler Working Through Ice (Primary Title)
William Bradford, American, 1823 - 1892 (Artist)
Born and raised near New Bedford, Massachusetts, the home port of the American whaling industry, William Bradford made his career depicting the massive ships that plied the Atlantic Ocean. Each spring, British and American whaling vessels set out for the Arctic, seeking the highly valuable products of their prey—oil and bone. In the summer of 1869, Bradford traveled with two photographers to the Arctic Circle to capture images of the icy North. These became source material for his impressive canvases. Here, men stand atop the frozen ocean, breaking a path through the glassy surface. The harsh environment and dangerous situation are amplified by the dramatic icebergs and ever-present summer sun.
James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin Collection
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