Dennis Lyall (B. 1946) "Cape Hatteras Lighthouse"

Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Cape Hatteras Lighthouse" Signed lower center. Oil on Canvas.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting appeared on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 25c Cape Hatteras stamp issued April 26, 1990.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse lies at the crook of a bending arm of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina known as the Outer Banks. The turbulent waters and shifting sandbars of nearby Diamond Shoals have vexed mariners for centuries, and many a voyage has ended here in tragedy as storm and shoal conspired to defeat even the most experienced navigator. In an attempt to assist these hardy sailors, a lighthouse has been signaling from Cape Hatteras since 1803, but the lighthouse itself may soon become a victim of the sea. In its early days, more than a mile of beach protected the brick tower of the lighthouse from the threat of the sea. By the time a taller lighthouse replaced the original in 1870, about fifteen hundred feet of beach remained. Today, at high tide in winter, the beach may only measure one hundred fifty feet. Over the years, attempts have been made to halt the encroachment of the sea. The base of the more than two hundred foot high structure -- it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the nation -- buffered against the sea's attack by large nylon sandbags. Further, the beach has been replenished several times, sand fences have been planted to help build dunes, and artificial seaweed has been positioned offshore to create a sandbar to reduce wave erosion. In the future, rescue efforts like these may be funded at least in part through the efforts of concerned groups like The Lighthouse Preservation Society.

Image Size: 12.5 x 17.5 in.
Overall Size: 14 x 19.5 in.
Unframed.
(B12267)
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