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Painting 1954.111.1
Mugford in the Franklin Capturing the Hope
Painting 1954.111.1

Mugford in the Franklin Capturing the Hope

DatePossibly 1923
Artist John Orne Johnson Frost (1852-1928)
OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Marblehead
MediumWater-based paint and pencil on wall board
DimensionsOther (Unframed): 28 1/2 × 37in. (72.4 × 94cm) Framed: 36 7/8 × 46 1/2 × 2in. (5.1cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1954.111.1
DescriptionSeascape with a green sea. A stretch of brown land with white houses and soldiers in blue coats drilling extends across the bottom of the scene. A peninsula with three cannon, accompanying soldiers, and a flag with a pine tree against a white background extends from this stretch. A horse pulls a two-wheeled blue wagon in the lower right corner, two black-and-white oxen pull a cart in the lower left, and two additional oxen appear on far left. Ships are at harbor on the right. There are eight sailing ships in the ocean, some of them flying the same flags with pine trees against a white field. Behind (or above) ships is a brown peninsula jutting out into the water from the right. Four white tents set up on land, and men in black pants and red shirts are drilling on it, carrying guns. These are presumably members of the British Army. Several pine trees grow on this stretch of land. Behind them in the water and along the horizon line are more ships. In the upper right corner, the FRANKLIN fires a cannon ball at the HOPE and men row out towards the HOPE in a small boat. Other ships are visible to the far left. In the upper left corner, an angel flies holding an American flag and two doves of peace.
Label TextPainted when he was over seventy years old, this is one of more than eighty carefully detailed paintings showing Marblehead as J.O.J. Frost imagined it at different periods in its history. Motivated by his very personal view of local history and unrestrained by the logic of time, here Frost depicted events that occurred at Marblehead Neck between 1774 and 1775 as happening simultaneously: The British brig NANCY is being captured by the American schooner LEE, Captain James Mugford is firing on the HOPE, British soldiers occupy Marblehead Neck, and General Glover's amphibious regiment of Marblehead fishermen patrols the shore.
InscribedPainted at upper left with[in] the composition is "[L]OVE AND PEACE/[UNIT]Y LIBERTY." Scattered within the composition are the following: "BRIG NANCY," "LEE," "SHIP HOPE," "MUGFORD/ FRANKLIN," "BRITISH/1774 & 5."
ProvenanceFound in Frost's house in 1954 at 11 Pond Street by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Dike Mason, Jr., who had purchased the house.