“Three Sisters of the Copeland Family,” William Matthew Prior, 1854. Oil on canvas.

WELLESLEY, MASS. – Crane Collection Gallery of Wellesley, Mass and Port ‘N Starboard of Falmouth, Me, present “,” an exhibition of marine paintings and coastal scenes from the Nineteenth Century to the present. Opening Saturday, May 5, the exhibition continues at Crane Collection, 564 Washington Street, through June.

Conceived really as “portraits,” classical marine paintings of clipper ships and schooner by well-known Nineteenth Century artists such as Antonio Jacobsen, William P. Stubbs, John Hughes (English) present vessels broadside, with all sails flying, on choppy seas. A more romantic view of yachts at sunset is by Warren Sheppard. Here the dark seas and shadowed hulls are set off against the glowing skies of twilight.

J-boats from the America’s Cup races of the 1930s are featured in several paintings by Max Kuehne who lived in Rockport, Massachusetts. Kuehne’s large painting, “Three Cup Defenders Running before the Wind,” is a striking composition, presenting the boat with full spinnaker, head on. A modern painting by Shane Couch recreates the excrdf_Descriptionent of the race between Rainbow and Endeavor from 1934.

Port ‘N Starboard Gallery was established in 1984 and specializes in Nineteenth Century marine antiques, paintings, and folk art. The Crane Collection focuses on American painting and sculpture form the Nineteenth Century to the present day, and has been in business for over twenty years. This exhibition is their first joint effort.

Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm and by appointment. For information, 781-235-1166.