Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Chasue Coming back from Alcatraz by B. Bradley |
Object Name |
Painting |
Description |
Watercolor painting Chasue Coming back from Alcatraz by B. Bradley. Watercolor on paper (A) was mounted under glass beneath a white colored mat inside a lightly stained wooden frame (B-frame removed 6/10/2014). Image depicts Charles Parsons' white yacht with three large white sails in full sail. They are two figures inside the boat, a male steering a female passenger. The boat has wooden detail on top. It is sailing toward the left side of the painting. There is land and one other sail boat in the background. The foreground shows turbulent water. Part of the Charles Parsons collection. |
Date |
c. 1980 |
Creator |
Bradley, B. |
Role |
Artist |
Medium |
Watercolor Paint |
Catalog Number |
2014.012.002A |
Dimensions |
H-17.625 W-21.875 inches |
Dimension Details |
(mat); 13x17.875 (image) |
Collection |
3D - Art |
Inscription Text |
"B. Bradley" (artist signature front lower right corner); "Wilkins Paint Store / Picture Framing - Art Supplies - Prints / 876 LAUREL ST. / LYtell 3-9503 / SAN CARLOS" (sticker on back right corner of frame) |
Provenance |
Chasue Yacht watercolor painting depicting Charles Parsons' Lapworth 36' B Class American Boat which he sailed and maintained from the 1960s through the 1990s. |
Notes |
Throughout his life, Charles Parsons had a passion for the sea and ships. During his childhood in Long Island, New York, he was a Sea Scout, became a champion sailboat skipper and built his first model ship. During World War II, he served in the Navy. Following the war, Charles and his wife, Suzanne, moved to the Bay Area. As a member of the San Francisco Yacht Club, Parsons enjoyed sailing his sloop, the Chasue. After he retired from his career as an engineer at Chevron, Parsons focused his efforts on model ship building. Parsons constructed his scale models at his home in San Carlos. Each model is a finely-crafted work of art. Often utilizing plans from others, Parsons would carefully research every detail of the design. He created a folder on every ship he built. These folders, which are now a part of the San Mateo County History Museum Archives, include notes, correspondences with designers, photographs and drawings outlining details of construction. It took Parsons approximately 18 months to complete each ship model. His models have been displayed at various West Coast museums and even made their way to Europe. |
Search Terms |
Alcatraz Bradley, B. Parsons, Charles H. Sailing San Francisco Bay Ships |
Subjects |
Bays Painting Sailboats Water Yachts |
People |
Bradley, B. Parsons, Charles H. |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Suzanne Parsons |