paintings of waterfronts

These paintings are based on exhaustive research into the history of the cities being depicted. Patrick consulted numerous old maps and compared them to modern maps. He studied antique prints, and photos from sources such as museums, historical societies and The Library of Congress.

This is a view of Manhattan across the East River at a time when the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge were the tallest structures in the city. The Fulton Fish Market is on the Manhattan shore at the far left, where the South Street Seaport is today.

Empire City

The painting presents a view of the bustling waterfront of Charleston, SC in the age of sail and steam. The Old Exchange building is in the center, with St Michael’s church steeple at right.

Charleston in 1890

This painting presents a view of busy river traffic on the Thames in 1899, from a viewpoint in Southwark. St. Paul’s cathedral, in the distance, dominated the London skyline for generations. In the middle distance, the old Southwark Bridge spans the river. On the river are a few Thames barges with their traditional red-ochre sails.

Old London

This painting depicts the waterfront in Washington DC in 1899. The waterfront was lined with businesses such as The Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Co, The American Oyster Co, and the Alexandria Ferry. There were lumber yards, ice houses, a firehouse and a morgue. Currently, the waterfont is lined with marinas, seafood restaurants, condos and offices.

On the Waterfront: Washington DC in 1899

A view of this picturesque Italian village when the fishing boats, called feluccas, still plied their trade. Today the village is known for tourism and celebrity sightings.

Portofino

The painting presents a view of New York in the 1890s from a point above Brooklyn, looking towards Manhattan. New York was a horizontal city in those pre-elevator days. The newly completed Brooklyn Bridge towered over the city. In this view, the tall spire of Trinity Church is at center, in the glare of the sun. It is still there to this day, but can be difficult to see among the skyscrapers that have sprung up around it. Liberty Island and Ellis Island are seen in the distance at left.

New York City Serenade

winner of the Award of Excellence at the Mystic International Marine Art Exhibition, 2015

The painting presents a view of the piers of lower Manhattan from just below the current-day South Street Seaport. The four skyscrapers in the distance were all built in the early 1930’s as part of the art-deco era race to build skyscrapers in Manhattan. These towers are all still standing, but can be difficult to see today among the many newer skyscrapers in the Financial District.

East River Piers

The painting presents a view of Venice 1890s. The Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the Campanile are at center left. The entrance to the grand canal is the distance at center right. Various Venetian vessels are shown, such as a trabaccolo, a vaporetto, gondolas, and in the foreground, a steam fireboat.

Bacino San Marco, Venice - 1899

The Thames River showing the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. In the distance the red sails are typical Thames barges of the times, and at left foreground is a steam police boat.

Victorian London

two views of historic Paris