William G. Yorke (1817-1892) Lived/active: New York; New Brunswick, Canada; Liverpool, England

Signed, l.l.: Wm. G. Yorke, 99 Prospect St., Brooklyn

Ca. 1875-1878

Oil on canvas, period gilt wood frame

22” x 34”, 27 1/8” x 39” framed.

Condition: Lined in superb condition.

A rare subject by the artist, Steam Tug Honeysuckle is a portrait of a tugboat built around 1876 for the United States government, which later became a New York harbor tug. Painted in Yorke’s typical American style, the painting has excellent detail and has a wonderful folky feeling.

William G. Yorke worked from early life as a shipwright, painting in his spare time. In his thirties, his success as a painter allowed him to quit ship-building and paint full time. Ships, his natural subject, remained his fascination throughout his career. He and his son, William Howard Yorke, worked together in Canada and England, but when the two had a falling-out, the father came to America. He lived in America, often in boats and often in poverty, for the remainder of his career. Many of his paintings of ships are on display at the Mystic Seaport Museum of Connecticut.