Inspired by the Greek Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, the beautiful Portland Breakwater Lighthouse in Maine was built in 1874. The architect of Portland Breakwater Lighthouse also designed the dome of the US Capitol. The original Greek Choragic Monument was built near the Acropolis of Athens. This was the first time Corinthians columns were constructed on the exterior of a building. My painting of the lighthouse captures the elegance and strength of the Corinthian columns surrounding the lighthouse. The cupola that crowns the lighthouse is painted as a diadem to symbolize its majesty. The lighthouse and a breakwater were built after an 1831 storm damaged ships, piers and buildings in Portland’s harbor. The breakwater was first constructed and turned out to be a navigational hazard. Finally in 1855 the first lighthouse was constructed. In 1874 the current lighthouse replaced the wooden lighthouse.
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Like nurturing mothers, a fleet of lighthouse tenders saw to the needs of lighthouses.
The U.S. Lighthouse Service used such vessels to carry fuel, food and other essential supplies to lighthouses, lightships, their keepers and crews. They also maintained the buoys and range lights that guided ships and boats into harbors and away from rocks and reefs. Interestingly, these brave vessels are all named after flowers and trees like the LILAC Lighthouse Tender at Hudson River Park in Manhattan. The LILAC Lighthouse Tender continues to serve the New York community. Last year, the LILAC offered free admission to nearly 6,000 visitors. This Includes 900 kids visiting on board with The River Project. The LILAC is the last surviving steam-propelled lighthouse tender in America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lilac is located at Pier 25 at Hudson River Park. With over 6,500 languages over the world, miscommunication is bound to happen. According to the National Conference on Communication, barriers to communication prevent us from receiving and understanding information others use to convey information. Art has an advantage over other forms of communication. Art is universal. The language of color and imagery has been used by man dating back to the cave. Saatchiart unites artists and collectors from around the world on its website. A collection of my original Lighthouse Art is on sale for the first time on Saatchiart.com. It’s history and iconic location may be why Portland Head Lighthouse is the “Most Photographed Lighthouse" in the United States. Built in 1791, It was the first lighthouse completed under President George Washington while Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury.
Hamilton had many claims to fame before he was featured in the popular broadway show. As Secretary of Treasury he pushed for the Lighthouse Act to federalize lighthouses. He then personally administered lighthouses before assigning them to the Commissioner of Revenue. The Commissioner collected duties with a fleet of Revenue Cutters. It was the first source of revenue for the new government and the predecessor of the Coast Guard. Portland Head was one of the lighthouses to help provide this needed source of income. The Crooked River Lighthouse overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and is situated next to Camp Jordan Museum. Amphibious soldiers of World War II were trained at Camp Jordan. The painting, L’ Art Degenere d’phare (Lighthouse Degenerate Art) honors the contemporary artists who works were banned by the Nazis of World War II and displayed in the Degenerate Art Exhibit. The works of art were formerly exhibited in German Museums. My painting of Crooked River Lighthouse is a refreshing rendition of a lighthouse. It captured the imagination of the family of the family of former light keepers. |
AuthorWhen I am not traveling to or painting lighthouses, I am writing or researching lighthouses. Archives
December 2022
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