Sag Harbor Whaling Museum Opens its 2022 season with “The Art of Whaling”
The Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum is delighted to open our 2022 season on SUNDAY MAY 1st with “The Art Of Whaling,” a collection of whaling paintings, prints and drawings from the early 1800s to modern day.
On display will be art from various European and American artists and printers, including a number of historically significant works such as two prints by Frenchman Ambrose Louis Garneray that author Herman Melville called “By far the finest…presentations of whales and whaling scenes anywhere to be found…” There are also several related to Sag Harbor and Long Island whaling history.
For the marine artist – indeed, all artists – whaling offers some of the most dramatic themes and compositions available. The first sighting of a whale, the launching of boats, and of course the encounter with the whale itself: A handful of men in a fragile wooden boat struggling to catch an animal that could be some 60 feet long and weigh up to 60 tons. In doing their jobs, whalemen were putting their very lives on the line. Artists have been capturing these scenes almost since whaling began.
Come see how artists have explored, interpreted and portrayed one of the world’s most dangerous professions – and one of the most noble and beautiful animals on earth.
