#25 • Sydney Laurence "Ship in Sunlight" Oil Painting
Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)
High bid $8,600.00
Status: Sold
Category: Art
An important original oil painting by the celebrated Alaskan master Sydney Mortimer Laurence (1865-1940), entitled Ship in Sunlight, depicting a three-masted sailing vessel cresting deep blue ocean swells beneath an expansive sky filled with luminous, broken clouds. Sunlight filters through the atmosphere to illuminate the sails and horizon, while confident, layered brushwork captures the constant motion of sea and sky with the artist's characteristic sensitivity to light and atmosphere. Although Laurence is best remembered for his iconic views of Denali and the Alaskan landscape, marine painting formed the foundation of his artistic career. Before establishing himself in Alaska, he studied under the renowned American marine painter Edward Moran and spent years in England and Cornwall refining his depictions of open water, changing weather, and sailing vessels. Those formative influences are readily apparent here, where the rhythmic movement of the sea and dramatic interplay of light recall the finest traditions of nineteenth-century maritime painting while foreshadowing the atmospheric effects that would define his later Alaskan masterpieces. The painting is signed lower right and titled Ship in Sunlight en verso. A pencil notation at upper left references The Nugget Shop in Juneau, the well-known gallery and curio store through which Laurence sold many of his paintings during the early decades of the twentieth century, providing an intriguing historical connection to the artist's commercial career in territorial Alaska. Further enhancing its provenance, the painting is accompanied by an undated Bill of Sale from the Far North Gallery in Anchorage, signed by the influential Alaskan art and artifact dealer Charles "Charlie" McAlpine (1932-2019), documenting a historic purchase price of $37,000. McAlpine was widely recognized for handling many of Alaska's most significant paintings and ethnographic works during the latter half of the twentieth century, making the survival of this documented ownership history a noteworthy addition to the painting's story. Marine paintings by Laurence are encountered far less frequently than his celebrated mountain landscapes, representing an important chapter from the artist's early career and demonstrating the technical mastery that would later establish him as Alaska's preeminent painter. The combination of subject matter, period frame, documented title, and long-standing Alaska provenance makes this an especially desirable example for collectors of Alaskana and historic American art. Housed in what appears to be its original carved and gilded wood frame, the work measures approximately 23.5" x 27.5" overall, with an image sight of 20" x 16.5". Provenance: Private Collection, Anchorage, AK The collection of Charles (Charlie) McAlpine (1932-2019)
