AFA 18th Anniversary

In 1837 Lane produced two lithographed views of Boston’s harbor. In Lane’s marine views, he is always concerned with the details of ships and their functions. In the foreground, for example, is a timber raft. This is the first of Lane’s views of Boston Harbor; many paintings followed. Erik Ronnberg, adjunct maritime curator at the Cape Ann Museum, suggests that the view is from Governor’s Island, looking west toward the growing city. The State House, with its towering dome, dominates the skyline. Lane probably focused first on the view of the city, and then drew the ships to fill in the foreground. It seems like an impossibly crowded scene, but printmakers and artists often exaggerated the amount of shipping for aesthetic and commercial purposes. 18th Anniversary 170 www.afamag.com | w ww.incollect.com Thomas Moore, the bookkeeper at Pendleton’s Lithography, succeeded Pendleton in business and continued producing prints in much the same fashion—a combination of taking commissions from others and publishing important prints on his own for sale in Boston. Captn. E. G. Austin’s Quick Step is typical of commissions offered to Moore by music publishers. In contrast to Lane’s first attempt in illustrating covers for music scores, this piece and most of the others by his hand, were for music composed by Americans. The growth in the music publishing industry represents the success of piano manufacturing as well. In Boston, an early center for music publishing, Jonas Chickering established an important company and soon pianos were common features in parlors in cities and towns. Captn. E. G. Austin’s Quick Step “Yankee Ship and a Yankee Crew.” Drawn by F. H. Lane. Lithograph by Moore’s Lithography, Boston, 1837. Published by Parker & Ditson. Lithograph on paper (sheet music), 9⅝ x 6¾ in. Drawn by F. H. Lane. Lithograph by Moore’s Lithography, Boston, 1837. Published by Parker & Ditson. Collection of the Cape Ann Museum; Gift of E. Hyde Cox, 1994. View in Boston Harbour. Drawing attributed to F.H. Lane. Lithograph by T. Moore’s Lithography, Boston, ca. 1837. Lithograph on paper, hand-colored, 1215⁄16 x 1911⁄16 in. Boston Athenaeum.