Name/Title
Burlington Harbor, ca. 1895Entry/Object ID
2006.45.1Description
This painting portrays a white steamboat positioned in the water, situated near the shore adjacent to a large two-story building that extends into the water. The scene is depicted from a viewpoint on the water, looking towards the shore. The land is represented as a flat strip positioned below the center line of the composition, adorned with numerous trees and buildings painted in shades of tan, red, and white. The steamboat itself features distinctive elements, including a black smokestack and a water wheel positioned on its side. It has two deck levels. The wheel cover of the water wheel bears the label "Chateaugay," while a blue flag with the same label is seen flying from the boat. At the stern, an American flag is displayed, while the bow exhibits the Vermont flag. The sky above is depicted as a blue expanse, embellished with scattered white clouds.Artwork Details
Medium
AcrylicSubject
Steamboat ChateaugaySubject Place
Lake
Lake ChamplainCity
BurlingtonCounty
Chittenden CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaContext
Born in Albany, New York in 1927, Ernie Haas showed an early aptitude for drawing. After serving in the Navy at the end of WWII he enrolled at Paul Smith College for a year before transferring to the School of Practical Art in Boston. He was called back into service during the Korean War and was assigned to the Naval Photo Center where he produced art for training materials.
He worked for a time as an artist agent in New York before going back to school at Southern Connecticut College for a degree in history. He taught in Connecticut schools until retirement in 1984. At that time he and his wife relocated to South Burlington, Vermont.
Haas became involved as a volunteer with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and was encouraged to rediscover his love of painting by then director Art Cohn. Haas created original artwork for museum exhibitions and publications as well as stand-alone works of early sidewheelers and historical events.
The steamboat Chateaugay was built in 1887 at Shelburne Harbor and launched by the Champlain Transportation Company as a state-of-the-art excursion vessel. It operated for 37 years as an excursion boat before being stripped down and converted into a car ferry in 1925. The boat is depicted in its heyday departing the Lake Champlain Yacht Club in Burlington Harbor.Acquisition
Accession
2006.45Source or Donor
Haas, Ernest J. (b. 1927)Acquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist
Haas, Ernest J. (b. 1927)Date made
2006Place
City
South BurlingtonCounty
Chittenden CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
PaintingNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
21 inWidth
36 inRelationships
Related Publications
Publication
Celebrating Ernest Haas