Where can I see Perry's Victory?

Perry's Victory is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Perry's Victory?

Perry's Victory is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

Perry's Victory

Perry's Victory is an oil painting. It dates from 1822 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Perry’s Victory is an oil painting executed on a glass panel rather than traditional canvas.

About this work

Technique & Style

Executed in 1821, Perry’s Victory is painted in oil on glass, a support that was historically used to achieve luminous, jewel-like effects in maritime scenes.

Executed in 1821, Perry’s Victory is painted in oil on glass, a support that was historically used to achieve luminous, jewel-like effects in maritime scenes. The composition is tightly framed on the ship’s stern, with meticulous handling of rigging and carved sternwork rendered in fine, linear strokes. The palette is restrained yet saturated, relying on deep ultramarine hulls and accents of crimson and gold to heighten the vessel’s presence against a muted background.

Stylistically, the work aligns with early nineteenth-century American naive marine painting, favoring sharp delineation over atmospheric recession to emphasize clarity and narrative legibility.

The glass support shows no evidence of flaking or lifting, and the paint layer remains intact with only minor age-related haze; overall condition is stable.

History & Provenance

Painted in 1821, the work is an oil on glass marine scene measuring 29.2 cm by 41.3 cm and was produced in China by an anonymous artist; it was classified as a marine genre piece and placed in The American Wing of the museum.

The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view; its provenance traces only from its creation to museum acquisition, with no documented prior ownership or commissioning details.

Perry's Victory is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within the American Wing. The work, created in 1821, depicts a ship and is executed in oil on glass. While the artist remains unknown, the painting is attributed to a Chinese origin based on its provenance data.

The museum's records list specific physical dimensions for the piece, noting a height of 29.2 cm and a width of 41.3 cm. No specific exhibition history or accession number is provided in the available records for this marine genre work.

Overview

Perry’s Victory is an oil painting executed on a glass panel rather than traditional canvas. The work depicts a naval engagement, showing a dark‑hulled vessel with white sails unleashing its cannon fire against an opposing ship amid turbulent water. The unusual support and back‑painting technique give the image a luminous quality, as light passes through the pigments from behind.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a moment of naval combat, emphasizing the drama of a dark warship with billowing white sails engaging an enemy vessel. The choppy sea underscores the peril and intensity of the encounter, reflecting themes of conflict and national pride associated with early American naval victories.

Context

During the period when the work was produced, most maritime paintings were rendered on canvas or wood panels. The choice of glass as a substrate sets this piece apart, aligning it with experimental practices that sought to enhance visual effects through light transmission.

Artist & collection

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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