"The United States Ship of War Delaware"

c. 1833

Maker

John William Hill (1812-1879)  

Measurements

Frame: 21 in X 25-1/2 in x 1 in; sight, 18-3/8 in x 23 in

Materials

Lithograph on paper; linen backing

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3602

Inscription

“THE UNITED STATES SHIP OF WAR DELAWARE. / CAPTAIN HENRY E. BALLARD.” are cut out from the original print and pasted below the image.  “1853” is written below an illegible name on the back of the linen backing

Condition Notes

The image and banners were cut out from the engraved and mounted on other paper, and the whole appears to have been mounted on linen.  The paper surfaces appear to have been varnished.  There is a T shaped tear of about 2-1/2 inches below the stern of the frigate.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

The lithograph shows the 74-gun frigate USS Delaware, launched in 1820, under sail.  Missing text from the image states, “near the Western Islands August 25, 1833 on her passage to France with his Excellency Edward Livingston, Envoy Extraordinary and minister Plenipotentiary, from the United States to the Court of St. Cloud.”  Missing text also identified the sailing master as Frederick Washington Moores, (1795-1869) and the artist as J. W. Hill.  The ship returned three years later.  At that time, Capt. Henry E. Ballard (1786-1855) commanded the USS Delaware.  The ship was launched from Norfolk Navy Yard in 1820 and was burned in 1861 while at Norfolk to prevent capture by Confederates.