“Blazing the Trail,” Philip R. Goodwin, $110,000.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – James Bard’s 1868 ship portrait of the side-wheeler Milton Martin led Northeast Auction’s Maritime auction this past weekend selling at $96,000. The large 30 by 50 inch oil sold with a single bid from Michael Florio representing the Quester Gallery of Stonington, Connecticut.

Mr Florio told correspondent Bob Jackman, “It is an excellent example of Bard’s work. It is in very good condition, near excellent condition. It has not been relined. It is well suited to our inventory of marine paintings.”

Milton Marvin was the namesake of a major stockholder in the Harlem River Navigation Company, which owned the vessel. Leigh Keno Antiques of New York City had sold the painting at its Winter Antiques Show in January 2001.

A complete account of the auction will appear in a future edition of Antiques and The Arts Weekly.