The Exhibition of Watercolors will open JUNE 21st - and run to
JULY 2nd* at Jessie Edwards Gallery, 2nd floor - P.O. Building
above Old Harbor, Block Island, Rhode Island
*The Gallery will rotate new works into the show throughout the summer. Please refer to the Gallery website, Jessieedwardsgalley.com and Artist’s site, williamtalmadgehall.com to see (all) original exhibited works AND to read explanations of each paintings historical reference.
For examples of framed prints scroll down for more details.
Thank you, BH
2024- 001
Title: Block Island Tuna Club, Sunset - 1956, Block Island, RI
Medium: Watercolor. Size: 6” X 9” Live area. Framed: Approx. 16” X 20”
Comments: Ocean View Hotel is in the Back ground. The Ocean View was a long imposing building to the west of the Tuna Club. The enormous Hotel was in ever-declining condition in the late 1950’s and like a haunted house looked spooky as a silhouette in the sunsets.
2024-002
Title: Charles W. Morgan & Block Island Dories - Late 1800’s
Medium: Water color: Size: 6” X 10-1/2” - Live area Framed: Approx. 16” X 22”
Comments: In it’s long history of whalingThe Charles W. Morgan passed by shores of Block Island many times. The Morgan’s dark hull and size with set sails must have created quite a spectacle as she passed by the Double Enders of The Block Island fishing fleet.
2024-003
Title: The YANKEE Ferry Boat- Leaving New Harbor, Block Island, RI - Approx. 1960
Medium: Water Color Size: 6” X 10” - Live Area Framed: Approx 16” X 20”
Comments: There is a fire at the Block Island Dump indicated in this picture that would have been obvious from this perspective. To the left there is a house in the foreground that was called, “Bean’s Point” by local residents after the family who lived there in the late 1950’s.
2024-004
Title: Block Island Double Ender in Rough water.
Medium: Water Color Size: 5” X 7” - Live area Framed: Approx. 12” X 16”
Comments: The significance of this picture is the Block Island Double Ender is doing much better navigating the rough sea conditions than the larger fishing Schooner. The Double Ender became famous with mariners for her sea worthiness owed much to her unusually wide beam.
2024-005
Title: YANKEE Ferry Boat Rough Crossing - 1950’s:
Medium: Water Color Size: 7” X 10” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 16” X 20”
Comments: The Yankee made round trips to Block Island once a day leaving and returning to India Point, Providence, RI. It had to travel down the length of Narraganset Bay into the open Sound for the last hour of it’s trip to Block Island. Sometimes the sailing conditions deteriorated and approaching Old Harbor could be dangerous. Good Captains with old-world sailing experience were sought after for this run. The waves crashing over the breakwater on the ocean side could make the approach challenging. Portrayed in this picture is such a trip as lobstermen haul their traps in the lee of the protecting breakwater.
Sold
2024-007
Title: Rounding Sandy Point at North Light - 1860’s
Medium: Water Color Size: 6-1/2 “ X 9-1/2” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 16” X 22”
Comments: Navigating safely around Sandy Point Block Island has always been a concern. It’s the site of many tragic ship wrecks and groundings. In this picture two Block Island Double Enders are delivering travelers to the Square Rigger on the east side of this sandy spit of land. It’s a relatively calm day, but still caution is needed to determine depth and bottom features. The man on the starboard side checks the depth with a sounding string. Trawl barrels on the port side of the boats are suspending long lines with baited hooks. The Double Enders pictured in this scenario were launched from a nearby beach, perhaps Dories Cove not far from the North Light.
2024-008
Title: Block Island Dragger & Sword-fisherman - 1940’s
Medium: Water Color Size: 6” X 9-1/2” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 16” X 20”
Comments: Block Island Sound was used for maneuvers by the Navy Atlantic Fleet stationed at Quonset Naval Air Station, Newport, RI. Aircraft Carriers were stationed there with a full compliment of support vessels. In this picture a Fletcher Class Destroyer is seen in the distance participating in the Maneuvers with the Aircraft carriers. German U-Boats did sink a large number of ships in the area and several civilian Fishing Trawlers were also sunk.
2024-009
Title: Block Island Dories with “Great White Fleet” - 1899
Medium: Water Color Size: 5” X 7” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 12” X 16”
Comments: Theodore Rosevelt convinced the Department Navy to build a squadron of Battle Ships. They later toured the world as a fleet to show our strength as a naval power. On tour and while on maneuvers they would have been seen off Block Island. For the record the ship pictured on the far left is, “The Olympia”. The Block Island Double Enders are engaging in Trawl fishing and hand lining for Bottom Fish like Cod and Flounder.
2024-010
Title: “Smilin Through” Cottage on Cooneymus Rd., Block Island, RI
Medium: Water Color Size: 6-1/4” X 9-1/4” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 18” X 20”
Comments: Arthur A. Penn wrote the song, “Smiling Through” and named it after his cottage on Block Island. It was published about 1919. It became very popular in the 1920’s as a movie. The house has been maintained in it’s original form since then. The painting shows how the stone walls were built and maintained by hand in the old days.
2024-011
Title: The Charles W. Morgan, Passing Block Island, RI -1800’s
Medium: Water Color Size: 6-1/4” X 9-1/2” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 16” X 20”
Comments: The Morgan was built in 1841 in New Bedford and is one of the last Whaling Ships still in existence. It’s on exhibit at Mystic Sea Port, Mystic, CT. It made thirty-seven whaling trips in it’s career and likely passed Block Island on several occasions. The picture dramatizes the difference in scale between she and the other fishing boats of the era. The Morgan must have created quite a spectacle when observed by crews on the Block Island Dories.
2024-012
Title: Ocean View Hotel, 1870’s
Medium: Water Color Size: 8” X 12” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 18” X 22”
Comments: The large Victorian Hotel was built by Nicholas Ball of Block Island, RI. The Ocean View could serve over 500 guests and was well appointed. It hosted several famous Americans during it’s long career including General Ulysses S. Grant and members of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Hotel sat on the brow of the hill over looking Old Harbor and it dominated that landscape. Images of the Hotel appeared prominently in the promotional literature of its time and it was world famous. The Hotel burned in 1966.
2024-13
Title: Spring House Hotel - 1890’s
Medium: Water Color Size: 8” X 12” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 18” X 22”
Comment: The Spring House was owned and run by the, Mott Family. It has been in business for generations and is still a favorite summer family Hotel. It still enjoys a great reputation with travelers from all over the country.
2024-014
Title: Tuna Club, Block Island, RI - 1948
Medium: Water Color Size: 6-1/2” X 8” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 14” X 18”
Comment: At one time the Tuna Club of Block Island was a strong force in Big Game fishing on the East Coast. It had a roster of famous rod and reel fishermen from around the world. The Club took part in the Rhode Island Tuna competitions in the 1950’s. The white building located within view of the Spring House and Ocean View Hotels. It was a prominent and attractive structure and provided a beautiful views of the ocean to the north and east from its large shady porch.
2024-015
Title: Victorian Swim Outing - 1889
Medium: Water Color Size: 5” X 7” - Live Area Size Framed: Approx. - 12” X 16”
Comments: One of the popular Victorian summer pastimes for vacationing families on Block Island were outings on the water. Dorys, skiffs, Catboats and various small privates motor yachts ( once the marine motor was perfected ) were available for hire for this purpose. There are many Vintage Post Cards of Block Island showing well dressed women in bustled skirts, big sun hats and “Sporting” attire with men in sport jackets and white straw hats on sailing outings in Old Harbor. The picture i have made shows something a bit more casual and the family seems very comfortable in a fishing dory rented or borrowed from a fisherman in Old Harbor. The young “Nanny” is getting a little sun on her legs and the family is in fashionable swim (costumes) of the era. Many of the mores of the Victorian Era were melting away.
2024-016
Title: Rough Crossing in the Mail Boat.
Medium: Water Color Size: 5” X 7” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 12” X 16”
Comments: Before Old Harbor was made a, “Harbor of Refuge” all visiting boats had to anchor off the shores in various spots safe for that purpose based on the conditions of the season. As soon as there was a U.S. Mail contract and a Post Office on the island some sort of system had to be developed to fulfill the pledge, “The mail must go through”. This Water Color shows a very rough trip of the Mail Boat plowing steadily towards the island. Beside the Mail are passengers and light freight. The discomfort of the trip is evident. Rain and foul weather in an open boat could be daunting. The schooner in the distance is riding out the storm and the passenger Steamer plows ahead, perhaps to Mystic, CT.
2024-017
Title: Gathering Seaweed on Block Island – 1800’s
Medium: Water Color Size: 6-1/2” X 8” - Live Area Framed: Approx. 14” X 18”
Comments: On Block Island it was always understood there is a granted access to all the beaches across what ever land is most accessible for Islanders to gather what they need. Things like sea weed for garden fertilizer and food, salvaged wood from wrecks for building and winter fires, and fish for live bait or food fish from the beaches. This picture shows Islanders gathering seaweed in large baskets styled similar to those used in Nantucket, MA., Martha’s Vineyard, MA & along the Maine coast line.
PRINTS AVAILABLE - Price on request.
10% Enlargement.
“Custom” color prints from originals are available, matted only. They come in a hinged archival deep-bevel mat, (Cream White) bagged for protection & “Ready to frame”. Please allow three weeks for delivery.
Free shipping in U.S. by basic Ground.
1-401-965-4176
