e-Book Sailor-Painter: The Uncommon Life of Charles Robert Patterson download

A through and exhaustive piece of research on this little know artist, who enjoyed great renown and success in his day.
A must for any collector of his work or Maritime art, as it gives a clear idea of an artists life.

What extraordinary good fortune when I spotted this book on the publisher's table at a boat show last summer, fresh off the press and being sold publicly for the first time. In fact the publisher told me I was buying the first copy and the author told me later that I was probably the first person outside the publishing industry to have read the book. The subject of the book by Robert L. Webb is the very gifted marine artist Charles Robert Patterson who, right from the time I first became aware of his work about 40 years ago, was my favorite in a wide open field of many great 20th century marine illustrators and artists. Anyone who ever had a Seamen's Bank for Savings calendar hanging on his wall, or read Greyhounds of the Sea by Carl Cutler, or Some Famous Sailing Ships by Richard C. McKay could not help but remember the unforgettable sailing ship renditions by Patterson. A seafaring man who painted ships and the sea as they should be painted with the correct amount of sail for the sea condition and just the right amount of foam at the bow. In my opinion and that of the author these are some of the things that make a Patterson painting stand out. The ones who did it seemingly portrayed it the best. Patterson's early years at sea served him well.

Since he died in 1958 Patterson's work seems to have faded from view with the exception of a few short lived gallery exhibits and the calendars and books mentioned above which have also faded from view. Mr. Webb's book does, however, contain an extensive bibliography. Patterson's body of work was much smaller than many other popular artists and is seldom found for sale or auction. I have, however, made a personal crusade of seeking work by Patterson. This book will certainly bring Charles Robert Patterson back to the attention of discriminating marine art lovers everywhere.

Patterson started as a marine illustrator but it was his full blown oil paintings of clipper ships, downeasters, fishing schooners and naval subjects that brought him fame. He, together with author friend Felix Riesenberg, was greatly responsible for the ship lovers movement of the 1920s and 30s, which died out with World War II, but has been revived today. Mr. Webb describes the movement with great authority in chapter 6, one of my personal favorites. Patterson had an odd family life, leaving wife and daughter on the west coast while painting on the east. He also grew more cantankerous as he got older often having disagreements with important clients. Notwithstanding, his work was masterful and remains so today when compared to a great many outstanding modern artists who may have been inspired by Patterson as was I.

The book is thoroughly researched and annotated. There are eight pages of color plates. One wishes that the rest of the black and white illustrations could be color also but that is more than remedied by the numbers.

Mr. Webb is to be congratulated and his book is highly recommended.