Boston Harbor

Robert Salmon

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a seascape with sailboats and ships on the water. On the left is a small boat with its sails tied and several people aboard. A larger ship with unfurled sails and an American flag is in the center. On the right is the tallest sailing ship, with billowing white sails and a red-and-white flag atop its masts. There are more boats visible in the distance to the left and right, and they all have people faintly visible on their decks. The horizon is low against the sky, revealing a distant shoreline with buildings and trees on the left. The color palette is warm and muted, with soft browns, creams, and grays dominating the scene. The ocean below is a gray-green color with small waves, and the sky above is cloudy and gray.