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Untitled (moon over a harbor, wharf scene with full moon and masts of boats), c.1868

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of ships in a harbour at night, a full moon hanging low in the sky illuminating the scene.

Edward Mitchell Bannister, Untitled (moon over a harbor, wharf scene with full moon and masts of boats), c.1868, oil on fibreboard, 24.5 x 38.7 cm, Collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC, Gift of H. Alan and Melvin Frank (1983.95.76).

In this eerie nighttime scene, a full moon hanging low in the sky illuminates the placid waters of a harbour, whose ships remain shrouded in darkness. This painting illustrates Bannister’s interest in capturing natural light at different times of the day, as well as his love of the sea—the result of living his entire life by the water, in both Canada and the United States. Yet there is also an undeniable bleakness to this image—a sense of foreboding that may allude to intensified racial tensions in Boston after the Civil War (1861–65). This tumultuous climate was likely a factor in Bannister and his wife’s decision to relocate to Providence the following year.

Gallery

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a seashore with two figures standing at the edge of the water and houses in the distance.

Untitled (Rhode Island Seascape), c.1856

Portrait by Edward Mitchell Bannister of his wife, Christiana Carteaux Bannister. She is an African-American woman, seated on a green chair with her hands folded on her lap. She is wearing a brown dress embellished with a white lace collar and red bow. Her dark, curly hair is worn up in braids.

Portrait of Christiana Carteaux Bannister, c.1860

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of ships in a harbour at night, a full moon hanging low in the sky illuminating the scene.

Untitled (moon over a harbor, wharf scene with full moon and masts of boats), c.1868

Portrait by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a young African-American boy holding a stack of newspapers under his arm. He is wearing a brown coat, red neckerchief, and dark newsboy cap.

Newspaper Boy, 1869

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a scene in a stable. An agitated white horse is resisting a groom, its front left leg raised in a sign of protest.

Governor Sprague’s White Horse, 1869

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a seaside scene with small groups of people dispersed throughout the hilly landscape. A large ship with white sails is visible in the water at a distance.

Fort Dumpling, Jamestown, Rhode Island, n.d.

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a pastoral landscape. A man, emerging from a dense forest of oak trees, is walking along a path that leads to a small boat on the water. Nearby, a few cows are grazing.

Oak Trees, 1876

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a large bouquet of flowers sitting on a table.

Untitled (floral still life), n.d.

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a derelict fishing shack with a sagging roof and walls. Fishing equipment is haphazardly strewn about the scene.

Fishing Shacks, c.1877–85

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of waves crashing into a rocky coastline under a cloudy sky.

Newport, 1877–82

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a landscape with large trees at the edge of a field. In the distance, women and children are harvesting and stacking hay.

Hay Gatherers, c.1893

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of two men maneuvering a boat onto grass while two women carrying baskets look on.

People Near Boat, 1893

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a male worker pushing a wheelbarrow packed with seaweed up a grassy hill, while another worker can be seen in the distance gathering more seaweed.

Seaweed Gatherers, c.1898

Watercolour painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a small bridge on an overcast day, with the water below reflecting the surrounding trees.

Untitled (Landscape with Bridge), n.d.

Impressionist painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a vibrant cityscape with the left side of the street lined with colourful buildings and the right side is populated with trees displaying the colours of autumn.

Boston Street Scene, 1898–99

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a seashore with two figures standing at the edge of the water and houses in the distance.

Untitled (Rhode Island Seascape), c.1856

Portrait by Edward Mitchell Bannister of his wife, Christiana Carteaux Bannister. She is an African-American woman, seated on a green chair with her hands folded on her lap. She is wearing a brown dress embellished with a white lace collar and red bow. Her dark, curly hair is worn up in braids.

Portrait of Christiana Carteaux Bannister, c.1860

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of ships in a harbour at night, a full moon hanging low in the sky illuminating the scene.

Untitled (moon over a harbor, wharf scene with full moon and masts of boats), c.1868

Portrait by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a young African-American boy holding a stack of newspapers under his arm. He is wearing a brown coat, red neckerchief, and dark newsboy cap.

Newspaper Boy, 1869

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a scene in a stable. An agitated white horse is resisting a groom, its front left leg raised in a sign of protest.

Governor Sprague’s White Horse, 1869

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a seaside scene with small groups of people dispersed throughout the hilly landscape. A large ship with white sails is visible in the water at a distance.

Fort Dumpling, Jamestown, Rhode Island, n.d.

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a pastoral landscape. A man, emerging from a dense forest of oak trees, is walking along a path that leads to a small boat on the water. Nearby, a few cows are grazing.

Oak Trees, 1876

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a large bouquet of flowers sitting on a table.

Untitled (floral still life), n.d.

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a derelict fishing shack with a sagging roof and walls. Fishing equipment is haphazardly strewn about the scene.

Fishing Shacks, c.1877–85

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of waves crashing into a rocky coastline under a cloudy sky.

Newport, 1877–82

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a landscape with large trees at the edge of a field. In the distance, women and children are harvesting and stacking hay.

Hay Gatherers, c.1893

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of two men maneuvering a boat onto grass while two women carrying baskets look on.

People Near Boat, 1893

Painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a male worker pushing a wheelbarrow packed with seaweed up a grassy hill, while another worker can be seen in the distance gathering more seaweed.

Seaweed Gatherers, c.1898

Watercolour painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a small bridge on an overcast day, with the water below reflecting the surrounding trees.

Untitled (Landscape with Bridge), n.d.

Impressionist painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister of a vibrant cityscape with the left side of the street lined with colourful buildings and the right side is populated with trees displaying the colours of autumn.

Boston Street Scene, 1898–99

Untitled (moon over a harbor, wharf scene with full moon and masts of boats) - Art Canada