PORTRAIT OF NEW LONDON, CT WHALING CAPTAIN JAMES T. SKINNER BY ISAAC SHEFFIELD. Wonderful depiction of of the impeccably dressed captain standing and holding a map of Madagascar in his left hand and proportional dividers in his right. Behind him is a swagged red drape and a depiction of his American ship cutting in a captured whale. Oil on canvas. 34.5" x 27.5" plus a 3.5" wide antique, lemon gold frame with a hand lettered tablet affixed under the portrait. Condition lined and excellent. Provenance: Meylert Armstrong, New Hope, PA. Norm Flayderman, New Milford, CT. Peter Tillou, Litchfield, CT. Illustrated: Page 98 in Flayderman's "Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders". Figure 70 in "Our Spirited National Heritage". Alan Granby's "Wandering Whalemen And Their Art", page 3. Exhibited: Cooperstown, NY, The York State Historical Association 1973. Storrs, CT The William Benton Museum 1973 & 1979. Waterville, ME, Colby College Museum of Art 1973. Philadelphia, PA, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 1977. Utica, NY, The Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute 1977. Cahoon Museum, Cotuit, MA 2022. It is interesting to note that prior to Sotheby's 1985 sale of the Tillou Collection all the artwork was professionally examined and it was discovered that there were some modifications in the area of the Captain's face. It was decided to remove that paint and return the painting to the way it was originally executed. It is likely the sitter wanted a bit more youthful appearance and asked the artist to make the changes. On close inspection the changes are few and mostly in the Captain's hairline and shirt collar areas. This is without doubt the most widely known and best whaling captain depiction ever done by Sheffield. Circa 1835. From my personal collection.