Artwork
Capture of the "Savannah" by the "U.S.S. Perry"
Capture of the "Savannah" by the "U.S.S. Perry" is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Fritz Müller. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: Fr. Müller. 1861.
About this work
The U.S.S. Perry battles the Savannah at sea. Painted in 1861, it captures a naval clash from the early American Civil War and offers a glimpse of how such an engagement might have looked.
Technique & Style
As part of the museum’s collection since 1967, the work has retained its structural integrity, reflecting careful handling during acquisition and display.
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a medium confirmed by both the catalog entry and the National Gallery of Art record. Created in 1861 by Fritz Müller, it belongs to the marine genre and portrays the USS Perry, emphasizing the vessel’s rigging and billowing sails through layered brushwork and muted tonal contrast. The canvas support is stretched and primed, allowing fine detail in the ship’s hull and surrounding sea.
As part of the museum’s collection since 1967, the work has retained its structural integrity, reflecting careful handling during acquisition and display.
History & Provenance
The painting Capture of the "Savannah" by the "U.S.S. Perry" by Fritz Müller is dated to 1861. It was recorded as originating from New York before entering the collection of David Hollander in New York City. In 1960, Hollander sold the work to collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
The Garbisches later donated it to the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, D.C., in 1967, where it remains in the museum’s holdings.
The painting Capture of the "Savannah" by the "U.S.S. Perry" is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its accession occurred in 1967 as a gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who acquired it in 1960 from New York dealer David Hollander. The work is catalogued under the National Gallery of Art collection and is listed in the museum's inventories. Exhibition records do not indicate any major public displays beyond its inclusion in the museum's permanent collection displays.
Context
The painting 'Capture of the "Savannah" by the "U.S.S. Perry"' is an 1861 oil on canvas work by Fritz Müller. It belongs to the marine genre, reflecting mid‑19th‑century interest in naval subjects. The work depicts the USS Perry, a United States Navy vessel active during the early 1860s.
The painting entered the National Gallery of Art collection after being sold in 1960 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who gifted it to the museum in 1967. As part of the NGA's holdings, it exemplifies the institutional interest in preserving marine art from the period. Fritz Müller is noted for specializing in marine scenes, situating this work within his broader oeuvre of maritime subjects.
Overview
Fritz Müller's oil on canvas painting, titled "Capture of the 'Savannah' by the 'U.S.S. Perry'", was completed in 1861. This marine painting visually records a naval engagement during the American Civil War, specifically depicting the USS Perry in action. Through this work, Müller captured a moment from the early stages of the conflict, offering a historical representation of maritime warfare from that period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a specific naval confrontation: the USS Perry's engagement with the Confederate privateer Savannah. This event, occurring early in the American Civil War, was a notable incident in the Union's efforts to blockade Southern ports. Müller's depiction provides a visual account of the battle, highlighting the intensity of maritime combat during a pivotal period in American history.
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