A Whale Hunt
Probably Massachusetts, circa 1840
Oil on panel, 9 x 15 inches, in period gilt frame, 12 ½ x 19

This wonderful little painting illustrates the high stakes and dangers of whaling in the 19th century. Whaling was a lucrative and important industry, providing raw material for the manufacture of lamp oil, industrial lubricants, candles, corsets, and perfumes. American ports dominated the industry for nearly two centuries, operating more than two-thirds of the world’s whaling ships. The scene depicts sailors in typical close combat with a sperm whale—the largest creature on earth.

$5,000