Sketches of Dories on Carriages
Classification
seascapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Savage Homer, Jr.
Accession Number
1912-12-240
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Winslow Homer, a towering figure in American Realism, captured the rugged beauty of the sea in *Sketches of Dories on Carriages* from 1881. Known for his masterful depictions of coastal life, Homer had recently settled in Prouts Neck, Maine, immersing himself in the dramatic interplay of ocean, sky, and hardworking fishermen. These sketches reflect his keen observation of everyday maritime scenes, where dories—simple, flat-bottomed fishing boats—rest on wheeled beach carriages used for launching into the surf. As quick studies, likely in pencil or charcoal (medium to be confirmed), the works ...