TidesNet—Online Collections Entry Detail

DescriptionAn etching by American artist, Lemuel D. Eldred, of a scene along the coast of Grand Manan island in New Brunswick. It dates to about 1880. The etching measures 4 1/2” X 16” and shows fishermen in small boats pulling in a seine net full of fish. Eldred was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts in 1848 to a wealthy family. Early in his adult life, he took part in the American Civil War, serving as a captain of a New Bedford military company of the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment. Following the Civil War, in 1868, Eldred met the well known marine painter William Bradford, of nearby New Bedford, Massachusettts, just across the harbor from Fairhaven. Eldred trained with Bradford in his studios at Fairhaven as well as New York City. In 1876 Eldred exhibited some of his work at the National Academy in New York City and in Boston. That same year he moved to Boston, beginning a long career based there as a painter and etcher. Soon afterwards, he began to travel with multiple trips made throughout Europe and North Africa as well as elsewhere along the New England coast, the Bay of Funds and the St. Lawrence River. He made several trips to Grand Manan island during this time, initially in the company of fellow New Bedford artist, Charles Gifford. Grand Manan by this time was beginning to become a destination for artists and increasingly visitors with the advent of better steamship connections by sea and better accommodations for summer visitors. Eldred did several paintings as well as etchings while on Grand Manan The Tides Institute acquired this etching by Eldred of Grand Manan in 2014 from an antique shop in Marion, Massachusetts, a short distance from Fairhaven where Eldred was born and raised. Eldred died in 1921. Artist: Lemuel Eldred Classification: Prints Old Accession Number: 1620 Description: c. 1890.