Boston Harbour 1854 Postcard

Boston Harbour by Fitz Hugh Lane 1854 Fitz Henry Lane (born Nathaniel Rogers Lane; also formerly, mistakenly, known as Fitz Hugh Lane) (December 19, 1804 – August 14, 1865) was an American painter and had a style that would later be called Luminism and was America’s preeminent marine artist of the mid-19th century, a skilled draftsman, a master of ship’s portraiture, and an unparalleled observer of the world around him. Clipper ships were fast sailing vessels that were used for high-value cargo, such as silk, spices, and tea. They were able to travel at speeds of up to 30 kilometres per hour, which was much faster than the average merchant ship. However, clipper ships were sleek and narrow, so they could not carry as much cargo as a wider ship. They were also difficult to sail, requiring extraordinary skill. Clipper ships were used to transport settlers to the west, including those who made the trip as part of the California Gold Rush.