A Yachtsman’s Eye - The Glen S Foster Collection of Maritime Paintings

Publisher: W. W. Norton, $75

Publication Date: October 2005

CA Library Reference: 16641

A Yachtsman’s Eye is a superbly produced book of Marine Art from the personal collection of the late Glen Foster, an American sailor and collector. It has been produced by the Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia. The book is split into four main sections; American Yachting Art, British Yachting Art, American Marine Art, and British Marine Art.

The paintings from the collection, regrettably now split up, have been extremely well reproduced and beautifully printed in the very highest quality. Each one is an absolute gem. There are very comprehensive notes about each artist and every painting has descriptive notes about the vessels shown and the subject matter of the painting. It is a treasure trove for the yachting historian, researcher and lover of fine art. A phenomenal amount of research has gone into the preparation of the book and the text brings each painting very much alive.

The book gives us an insight into sailing in America and in our own country during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. When I first saw it I thought “Oh, another coffee table book of pictures”. How wrong could I be? The writers take us back to an era of yachting that has gone forever and the Marine Art sections accurately depict maritime events and images from a bygone age.

I have no hesitation in recommending “A Yachtsman’s Eye” to an one who has an interest the development of our sport and an appreciation of fine art. - BH