Frederick S. Cozzens, Marine Illustrator

Here's a left field pitch. Who's your favorite yachting artist? Not, as most of us might first think, a favorite yachting photographer (that's for another post) but actual true blue, get yer paintbrushes artist. Mine vote goes to Frederick S. Cozzens, considered by many to be one of the best American nineteenth century marine illustrators. He has a classicist eye for the beauty of sailing craft and the tones he uses are muted and refined...some might say a bit stodgy but hey, the guy lived from 1856 to 1928.

Some more background from the Philadelphia Print Shop...

Cozzens first publication was American Yachts, Their Clubs and Races, which contained 27 chromolithographs. These views are considered to be Cozzens' finest work, vividly conveying the atmosphere and thrill of the yacht races they depict. The portfolio of full color chromolithographs was released in a limited edition of signed "artist's proofs" and later in a second printing as "color prints" The set included twenty-five scenes of yachting activity, a signal chart featuring the flags of sixty-six yacht clubs, and an extra plate (which must have been included at the last possible moment) of the 1885 America's Cup race between Puritan and Genesta. Cozzens' work was so well received that he produced four other series of prints: Typical American Yachts (1886); Yachts and Yachting (1887); Our Navy, Its Growth and Achievements (1892); and Old Naval Prints (1892). By the turn of the century, Cozzens turned to drawing more beach scenes, seascapes and European vessels than he did yachting scenes, but it is for the latter which he is most famous.