James E. Buttersworth, signed, c.1860. Behind the ship headed into New York is the Sandy Hook light. The vessel is shortening sail perhaps to take aboard a pilot

James E. Buttersworth, signed. This is just another day at work for the crew of a hard sailing clipper.

James E. Buttersworth, signed, c.1850. We do not know which ship Buttersworth painted here. The United States Navy never had many warships of this size and not all existed when Buttersworth was painting.

James E. Buttersworth, signed, c. 1870. In 1869, American George Peabody died in his adopted country: Britain. Here his body is being loaded on the HMS MONARCH

James E. Buttersworth, signed. Riding to a couple of anchors in a last attempt to avoid going ashore, this American frigate flies its flag upside down as a distress signal.

James E. Buttersworth, signed. A two-decked American ship of the line is going to windward.

James E. Buttersworth, signed. The white cliffs of Dover provide a backdrop for a busy shipping scene in the English Channel.

James E. Buttersworth, signed. Here a two-decked ship of the line rides in a major gale.

James E. Buttersworth, signed. A major thunderstorm has hit Gibraltar.

James E. Buttersworth, signed. These vessels, running downwind in a breeze, have the big single topsails common to all ships prior to the 1860s.

Thomas Buttersworth Sr., signed, c.1815. The British prided themselves in winning single ship fights against the French.

Thomas Buttersworth, Jr., attributed, c. 1820. It’s blowing hard enough for the little lug-rigged boat on the right to be deeply reefed with her mizzen furled.

Thomas Buttersworth, Jr., signed, c.1820. Buttersworth instantly places these three Royal Navy vessels in the Mediterranean by painting a Mediterranean xebec under the bowsprit

Thomas Buttersworth, Sr., signed, c.1820. Here, Buttersworth portrays the mix of shipping traffic along the English Channel near the coast in a scene evocative of earlier Dutch paintings.

Thomas Buttersworth Jr. c.1813. Stephen Decatur was in command of the 44 gun frigate UNITED STATES when he took the 38 gun MACEDONIAN near the Canary Islands.

James E. Buttersworth, signed, c.1850. The NEBRASKA was one of hundreds of packets (ships operating on schedule) sailing the Atlantic before the Civil War.