Foundering James Hamilton (American, 1819-1878). Foundering, 1863. Oil on canvas, 59 5/8 x 48 1/16 in. ( x 122 cm). As in his painting The Last Days of Pompeii, on view nearby, here James Hamilton depicts human frailty in the face of nature’s awesome force. Under dramatic skies a foundering ship is tossed on stormy waves. A Confederate flag whips from the top of the mast (upside down to signal distress), making the image emblematic of the ongoing devastation of the Civil War and predictive of the South’s defeat. American Art 1863

---

Size: 2066px × 2419px
Photo credit: © BBM / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: