To Donald McKay Esq. builder of the Leviathan. Clipper Ship "Great Republic."

Object summary

Title: To Donald McKay Esq. builder of the Leviathan. Clipper Ship "Great Republic."
Object ID: CC-R-0014
Date made: 1853
Place made: United States, New York, New York
Painter (after): Buttersworth, James Edward
Lithographer: Currier, Nathaniel
Object type: Lithograph
Major collection: Nautical
Named collection: Arthur H. Clark Collection
On view: No

Description

A tinted lithograph of the port-side view of the clipper ship 'Great Republic.' The print is dedicated to Donald McKay, the shipbuilder. She sails with all of her sails full and set. Other clipper ships are on the horizon. The 'Great Republic' was noteworthy as she was the largest wooden clipper ever constructed. On 27 December 1853, a fire broke out and she was burnt to near the waterline ("water's edge"). She was eventually salvaged and rebuilt with reduced masts.