Philadelphia Antiques Show 2016_

James L. Kochan Fine Art &Antiques (304) 279-7714 jameskochan@comcast.net www.jameskochan.com P.O. Box 3970 Frederick, Maryland 21705 By Appointment XANTHUS SMITH (1839–1929) American Clipper Ship in Full Sail oil on canvas, 14 × 22 inches; signed on lower left: ‘Xanthus Smith’ Marine painter Xanthus Smith was born in Philadelphia, the son of artists Russell and Mary Smith, exhibiting his first painting in that city at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1856. During the Civil War, he served as captain’s clerk aboard the USS Wabash, the flagship of Rear Admiral Samuel F. Dupont. His artistic abilities caught the attention of the admiral and other naval officers and he was flooded with commissions, ranging from both personal and ship portraits to dramatic battle studies. In 1864 he left naval service due to poor health and upon recuperation, focused full on his artistic career. From that point on until well into the 1880s, the majority of his work revolved around Civil War subject matter. In 1977, he visited Mount Desert Island for the first time, returning to coastal Maine frequently and later purchasing a property on Casco Bay. It was there that he began to find inspiration for other marine themes, including the coastal views, shipwrecks and sailing ship studies for which he is so highly regarded, such as this fine oil of an American clipper ship. His works are found in the collections of most major American art and maritime museums. W 49 W booth W   24 W