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WARD LINE -AMERICAN NAVAL STEAMSHIP
USS "NIAGARA"
WATERCOLOR
By Frederick S. Cozzens Ca 1898
Watercolor on paper Ca 1898 Framed 33" X 24 1/2"
Unframed 17 3/8" x 26" Signed
Frederick S. Cozzens, LL
Presented is an outstanding
water color by one of America's most celebrated marine artist-illustrators, Frederick S. Cozzens. It is a classic ship portrait
of the single stack steamer, NIAGARA with auxiliary two masted sailing rig just after her purchase from the Ward Line Steamship
Co. by the U.S.Navy. In Navy service she kept her same name. Here, she is showing the U.S. flag off a staff at her transom,
her name pennant from her mizzen gaff, and the Ward Line's house flag a "W" in a circle from the mizzen truck. From the fore
gaff fly's a light blue flag with USN. And from her foremast truck is a striped yellow and red courtesy flag which was the
national flag of Cuba until 1899 indicating her plan to call on a port there . From her bow staff fly's the Union Jack. The
ship is sailing close hauled on the starboard tack under all her sails from her two masts. The artist's draftsmanship and
attention to detail is exceptional on this outstanding work.
SIGNED: The painting is signed
on the lower left, Frederick S. Cozzens. DEL after his name is an abbreviation for "Delineavit" which is
from the Latin meaning "drawn by". This may date this painting as one of his earlier works.
The sky is a blue-grey and overcast with dark green seas of good size running.The
condition of the painting is excellent. The frame is a recent gilded replacement.
WARD LINE U.S. NAVY SHIP NIAGARA:
The third ship by this name in navy service was a steamer built originally for the passenger trade by John Roach and Sons,
Chester, Pa., in 1877. She was acquired by the Navy from Ward Line Steamship Company on 11 April 1898 as part of a group of
merchant vessels that were acquired by the Department of the Navy for service in the Spanish American War. NIAGARA was fitted
out as a distilling and supply ship of the Collier Service. She was commissioned at New York 11 April 1898, with Comdr. G.
A. Bicknell as commanding officer. NIAGARA departed New York 25 April 1898 for the Caribbean via Norfolk, Va., and Key West,
Fla. During the Spanish American War she served the fleet off Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. The ship returned to Hampton Roads
26 May and sailed 4 days later, again bound for ports of Cuba and Puerto Rico. NIAGARA remained on station in the Caribbean
Sea until 24 July when she departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for New York, arriving 3 September, 1898. NIAGARA remained at New
York until she decommissioned 14 October 1898. She was sold 19 July 1899. Later laid up in New York in 1906, she was chartered
back to Ward Line in 1910 and 1911, and later sold to United Fruit Co. as TRUXILLO. She was transferred to Southern S.S. Co.
and scrapped in the 1930s.
THE WARD LINE: was officially known
as the New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Company.
For 115 years, the Ward Line provided freight and passenger
service to Nassau, Havana, and Mexican Gulf Ports. The company played a crucial link between these ports and the New York
City, and its ships played a significant role in the history of the nations they served.
Many people know the Ward Line only through the Morro Castle
of 1930, the liner whose tragic loss by fire in September 1934 changed Safety of Life at Sea laws forever as the single worst
loss of life in U.S. peacetime history .
The Ward Line was a critical link for U.S. interests in
Cuba, Mexico, and the Bahamas, and they served a cross-section of the American public for nearly twelve decades.
The steamship line weathered the storms of revolution, war,
poor profits, fickle subsidies, tragic losses, and changing technology to serve the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1840 until 1955,
and was the oldest U.S. shipping company at the time of its liquidation.
THE ARTIST: Frederick S. Cozzens (1856-1928), is considered one of the best
American nineteenth century marine illustrators. From 1864 to 1867, he studied at the Rensselaer Polytech Institute but did
not complete the degree. He was a resident of Livingston, Staten Island, NY.
Cozzens drew all types of watercraft.
He is known to have sketched marine scenes as early as 1868, and exhibited at the Boston Art Club, the Mystic Seaport Association,
and the Brooklyn Art Association. Cozzens contributed many illustrations to such publications as Harper's Weekly,
The Daily Graphic, and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Magazine. Cozzens also exhibited at the New York Watercolor
Society. In 1880 the New York Yacht Club commissioned a set of six watercolors which are still hanging in the club today.
By 1883, Cozzens was a well established marine illustrator, and decided to turn his watercolors into prints. His best known
works are a series of chromolithographs of his watercolors that were reproduced as a portfolio for J.D.J. Kelley's. Today,
a single lithograph sell from $1800 to $2400.00 while his water colors sell for up wards of $10,000.00.
International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We
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Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern
Caribbean.
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United States.
A
ship portrait in the classic style of an American sailing ship scene of the 1860's.
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are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared.
No checks from overseas buyers, no credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item.
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