"The San Carlos" by William Alexander Coulter

(1949 - 1936_ 16” x 28” period frame 19” x 30”. Signed lower right. Undated. Estimate 1880s. Included is a letter from Coulter, Steel and Forged dated 1/24/69 by James Coulter, and a second handwritten letter dated 8/7/74 by James Coulter. In the letter he states “I would say it depicts the first night of the ‘San Carlos’ entry of S.F. Bay. This was the first known ship to enter the bay, and the log indicates she anchored off of what is now Sausalito for the first night. The background is Angel Island, and I think Alcatraz also shows. After that, she anchored in a cove off Angel Island in Racoon Straights, and from there explored the bay. My dad liked to paint this Spanish packer, and it is the subject of several paintings. All different. Your painting looks east from Sausalito in the Richardson Bay area. Seems like a very nice painting and I hope you always enjoy it.” Signed James Coulter. Also included is a 1957 Oakland Tribune article where the “Castco” painting was donated to the Oakland Museum, and six color Christmas cards from Coulter, Steel and Forged Co. showing different ships. William was born in Ireland and went to sea at age 13 for seven years as an apprentice allowing him to learn every detail of ships. Aboard the ships he would sketch and paint. By 1874, he was regularly exhibiting with the San Francisco Art Association. By 1890, he had a studio in San Francisco, and in 1896 joined the staff of the "San Francisco Call" as their waterfront artist. Between 1909-1920 William painted five mural panels for the Assembly Room of the Merchants Exchange Building which was the center of all trading and maritime business. In 1920, the US Postal Service immortalized one of his paintings with a commemorative 20 Cent stamp. From 1869 to 1936, he chronicled the shipping industry in San Francisco Bay, capturing the vitality of the square riggers, hay scows, tug boats and schooners that sailed in and out of the Golden Gate.