OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING BY GORDON GRANT. Signed lower left, dated 1929, and titled on a plaque "Perry at Lake Erie". Relined and restretched. 26 1/2"h. 45 1/4"w. Period gold-painted frame 33 1/4"h. 52 1/4"w. Gordon Grant (California and New York, 1875-1962) earned his living as an illustrator for various publications, including Harper's Weekly and Puck, but he is best remembered for his marine paintings, particularly his depiction of the "USS Constitution" which is in the White House Collection and hangs in the Oval Office. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie, is one of America's most celebrated naval heroes. Perry had the good fortune to capture a whole British Fleet, the inspiration to display a banner during the battle bearing the dying words of Captain James Lawrence, "Don't Give Up the Ship," and the prescience to announce his victory with the immortal words: "We have met the enemy and he is ours." Perry oversaw the construction of a fleet at Erie, Pennsylvania, that would contend with the British for control of Lake Erie. The British could supply their army by water while the American forces were dependent upon tenuous supply lines through the wilderness. If Perry could gain control of Lake Erie, the British would be forced to abandon the Northwest and retreat to the Niagara Frontier. With the completion of two powerful brigs -- his flagship, the "Lawrence" (named after James Lawrence), and the "Niagara" Perry sailed for Put-in-Bay. On September 10, the British commander, Commodore Barkley, approached with his fleet of six ships to engage the American Squadron. No American naval officer had ever faced an enemy fleet before, let alone an inexperienced twenty-eight year old commander. Perry performed heroically, but due to his lack of experience failed to effectively bring his fleet of nine ships into action. For two hours the "Lawrence" faced the combined fire of the largest British ships. Four-fifths of his crew were killed or wounded, and the "Lawrence" was reduced to a hulk. In a daring move Perry left his flagship, rowed in the ship's boat to the undamaged "Niagara", and sailed through the British line with guns blazing. The British fleet was quickly overwhelmed and forced to surrender. With the lake under American control, Perry transported the American army to Canada where the British were soon routed at the Battle of the Thames. Grant's "Perry at Lake Erie" depicts Perry abandoning the "Lawrence" with the British flagship, the "Detroit", and the Queen Charlotte seen in the background pouring their combined fire into the crippled "Lawrence". Grant's expertise as a marine artist enabled him to graphically capture Perry's plight and the odds he faced in his daring attempt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Garth's gratefully acknowledges Lou Schultz for his assistance in preparing this catalog entry.

Condition: The painting is as described. This cannot be shipped by Garths.

Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by our Conditions of Sale.