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Ad Code: 2
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from Auction House Records.
Eagle with "God is Our Refuge and Strength" Banner
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  A nautical wood carver from Maine, John Bellamy was also one of the
more famous. He is best known for his highly realistic, precisely
carved
wood eagles that were 'dubbed' Portsmouth Eagles or Bellamy
Eagles. Most of his eagles had adages attached such as 'don't
give up the ship', and coloration of red, white and blue.
However, one of his works, carved from pine is a lion's head with a
very ferocious expression. Intended for a ship, it is "a visual
pun on the cathead, a projection just under the ship's bow to which the
cat, or another rope was attached." The work has a note attached
to the back, which reads: 'This piece was carved by John H.
Bellamy at 77 Daniel St., January 1859.' " (Lipman, pp. 130, 137)
He was also an inventor and amateur poet.
He was born in Kittery Point across the water from Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, and he spent most of his career doing work for the naval
yards in that vicinity and in Boston in the mid 19th century. He also did commissions for
private homes and commercial ships.
The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia houses some of his carvings and tools.
Bellamy studied wood carving in New York and Boston, where he also did an apprenticeship.
He died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on April 5, 1914
Sources include:
Peter Hastings Falk, Editor, Who Was Who in American Art
Jean Lipman and Alice Winchester, The Flowering of American Folk Art
Glenn B. Opitz, Editor, Dictionary of American Sculptors
landandsecollection.com
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| ** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at registrar@AskART.com. |
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