Matt Thomas (United Kingdom, 20th century) oil on canvas marine painting depicting the famed and ill-fated steamship "J.M. White" sailing in a large body of water, with other ships and a port city in the background. Signed lower right. Housed in a wide molded giltwood frame. Sight: 24" H x 36" W. Framed: 33" H x 45" W. Last half 20th century. Note: Known as "the Mistress of the Mississippi," The "J.M. White" steamboat was known as the mightiest and most luxurious steamboat of its day. The boat was the masterpiece of her builder, the Howard Shipyard of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and it was named for Capt. J.M. White (1823-1880) of Cloverport, Kentucky. Owned by Greenville & New Orleans Packet Company, the sidewheeler carried both cotton and passengers along a New Orleans-Vicksburg-Greenville trade route, and also earned fame for setting a new speed record of seven hours between New Orleans and Baton Rouge during a race with The Natchez steamship. The ship came to a tragic end in 1888 while docked at Blue Store Landing in Louisiana. Fire broke out onboard and gunpowder stowed in the hold exploded, killing a reported 28 people. The exact cause of the blaze has never been determined, and the boat's wreckage remains at the bottom of the Mississippi River. (Source: The Waterways Journal Weekly, Jan. 17, 2021)

PROVENANCE: Private Tennessee Collection.

CONDITION: Excellent condition.