Marine Art News Charles Robert Patterson (1878-1958) towers over the field of modem marine art. Born of an English shipbuilding and shipowning family , he went to sea at age 13 and forged his own life , first on the decks of square riggers, then in the wilds of the Northwest and ultimately in Manhattan . His work is surprisingly little known today. The distinguished historian John Kemble , who knew Patterson and is a student of his work, offers this explanation: ''Perhaps one reason for the neglect which Patterson's work has suffered is that his pictures have been pretty closely held, and since his death when his work ceased appearing on calendars, in magazines, and so forth a whole generation has grown up which has never been exposed to his fine work. ''
At the end of 1982, Kennedy Galleries in New York held a major exhibition of Patterson paintings acquired from the Columbia Rope Company-and this landmark event has stirred a new wave of awareness and appreciation of his work. We are asking all who knew Patterson or have a point of view to offer to contribute to a report on the life and work of this hero of sea painting . We expect to publish the resulting appreciation in a future SEA HISTORY . Meantime, anyone who would like a catalog of the Kennedy exhibition may secure one by sending $10 to NMHS , 15 State Street, New York 10004. Exhibits of special interest
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ship models , registered and scratch built using techniques a nd materials required to mee t museum standards, are being offered by the D epartment of M arine Art and Ship M odels. Priced from $1 ,000 .
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Inventory Subscription, published quarterly , and Museum Quality Ship Models Brochure $12.00
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Last fall Zantman Art Galleries , PO Box 5818, Carmel CA 93921 , held its third " Of Sea & Ships ' ' exhibit of marines by Tom Wells, AICH and John Robinson-catalog available. Smith Gallery , 1045 Madison A venue, New York 10021, held its 5th annual exhibit of marine paintings in Februarycatalog $10 . Mystic Seaport Gallery , Mystic CT 06355, held last fall the first exhibit of Royal Society of Marine Artists work in the US (SH25:36-7). March 13 : "Submarine" -paintings and models of undersea craft today and in history . May 8-June 19: "Fourth Annual Mystic International'' -ajuried show of maritime art from the US and abroad . Annapolis Marine Art Gallery , 110 Dock Street, Annapolis MD 21401 , celebrates spring with a special exhibit opening April 10, 12-6 PM. Newman & Saunders , 120 BloomingdaleAve., Wayne PA 19087, " Seventh National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists' ' -a juried exhibition ; see past reviews in SH .
~ SEA HIS1DRY, SPRING 1983