Antique Fine Art Seascape Paintings Oil Canvas Nautical Marine Ocean Painting Artwork For Sale 
French Naval Ship  La Grande Hermine  (Captain Jacques Cartier (1535)
Nautical Seascape Marine Art Painting Oil on Canvas Board 
Artist: Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988)

Original Nautical Art use for First Day Cover!
 

Stunning Nautical oil painting of "La Grande Hermine" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. With amazing detail, depth, 3D-like Seagulls flying into observer, men on deck and colors including stunning cloud illuminated sky.    A real beauty! Unframed. 

* See enlargeable images above and below

Note: Very few original Charles Lundgren's paintings appear on the market.  Most of what you will see are prints and lithographs of his paintings. This Original painting was actually used for the La Grande Hermine FDC Cover issued in 1984.

Description:
This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 20c Roanoke Voyages stamp issued July 13, 1984.

On the morning of May 19, 1535, the first rays of sunlight to creep over the La Grande Hermine. Below, on the decks of "the big weasel," Jacques Cartier and his crew busily readied for the long voyage across the Atlantic. Charged by King Francis I of France to explore the region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Jacques Cartier was experienced and prepared for this trip, for a year before he had voyaged to Canada and explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence. La Grande Hermine, accompanied by two other ships and weathering foggy seas, took over a month and a half to cross the Atlantic. Reaching the New World at the coast of Labrador, Cartier sailed south, through the Strait of Belle Isle between Newfoundland and the continent, and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Then he turned the La Grande Hermine west and started up the St. Lawrence River. Following the river as far as it would take him, he set up camp for the winter. Cartier named the mountain there Mont Royal, which later came to be known as Montreal. The crew enjoyed the hospitality of the Huron Indians through the harsh Canadian winter. Cartier wrote, "All our beverages froze in their casks. And on board our ships, below the hatches as on deck, lay four fingers' breadth of ice." After the winter, the La Grande Hermine sailed for home. Cartier discovered and explored the St. Lawrence River, made an intelligent estimate of the resources of Canada and became friends with many of the Indian tribes of the area.

Grande Hermine was the name of the carrack that brought Jacques Cartier to Saint-Pierre on 15 June 1535, and upon which he discovered the estuary of the St. Lawrence River and the St. Lawrence Iroquoian settlement of Stadacona (near current-day Quebec City). She is believed to be represented in the local flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (the yellow ship). It is also featured on the Amory Adventure Award of Canadian Scouting. La Grande Hermine was the second ship Jacques Cartier used when exploring the St. Lawrence River

Image Size: 20.5 x 19 in.
Overall Size: 26 x 24 in.

History/Background:
The Fleetwood / Unicover Corporation produced this beautiful limited edition set of 50 State related covers for Great Fighting Ships of the United States. Each cover is cancelled in the Capital City of the State, and during the years 1986 or 1987. The covers are cacheted using the beautiful original paintings by the artist Charles Lundgrenl. The Art depicts each Naval Vessel at Sea. Each cover offers a full description of the Ship and its' History on the reverse side.

These First Day Covers are available on eBay.   Imagine Owning the original artwork for these FDCs?

Artist BIO:
Charles Lundgren American 1911 - 1988

Fine marine painting is much more than the illustration of ship and water. It is the evocation of salt and tar, wind and sail, the light, the movement of water ... the affinity of man and sea. As an experienced yachtsman, historian of the sea, as well as an acclaimed marine artist, Charles Lundgren captured this complex harmony in his paintings.

Looking every bit the part of the ancient mariner, himself, Lundgren's love and respect for deep water was reflected in every painting. Combined with his consummate skill as an artist, this resulted in marine painting at its finest. Study at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (Parsons), the Paris School of Fine and Applied Art, as well as schools in Germany and Italy, plus extensive travel throughout Europe and Africa enabled Lundgren to develop his talents and perfect his technique.

One art critic praised him with these words: "He is, in my eyes, much more than a painter of the sea. He is a believer in it. A historian of the days when men reached new continents by sail and stars alone."   Lundgren's painting skills were sought by individuals --- he often painted "portraits" of the boats and ships owned by the rich and the famous --- as well as museums and companies.

But, I am most fascinated with well executed Marine/Nautical art that has a fascinating historical connection.  Which is why this Stamp First Day Issue collection by Charles Lundgren is so captivating. 

Not suprisingly, his works were acquired for such collections of Huntington Hartford, J.P. Morgan, Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Wayne, Pegeen Fitzgerald, Cornelius Walsh, George Jensen and Eric Sloane.

Sales History: In November 2006 Lundgren's painting Race Day In Bermuda, sold for $18,000. 

Note: Cvtreasures stamp Not on original