Charles Sidney Raleigh (1830-1925, Wareham, MA)

Portrait of the steam whaler bark, Belvedere. Oil painting on canvas signed lower left, dated 1880. The painting depicts the Belvedere under sail and steam exiting New Bedford Harbor in Buzzards Bay on its maiden voyage. On the right side of the painting the Dumpling Rock Lighthouse at the mouth of the Acushnet River can be seen in the background. Sight size 26 1/2" x 39", overall with carved and gilded frame 31 1/2" x 44". Minor inpainting, has been relined. Raleigh was born in Gloucester, England and was a sailor from boyhood. He ran away on a British naval vessel at age 10 and served in the American Navy during the Mexican War. In 1877, he moved to New Bedford where he is listed as a marine painter. He was self taught and specialized in ship portraits. He also lived in and kept a studio in Wareham, MA in the Captain John Kendrick house. The Belvedere was built in Bath, ME in 1880. She made 33 whaling voyages between 1880 and 1914. She was 440/340 tons, and was crushed by ice in 1919.