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An Arctic Summer: Boring Through the Pack in Melville Bay

1871
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 760
In 1861 the marine painter Bradford made the first of seven expeditions to the Arctic regions. This painting, based on photographs and sketches produced during his final trip, in 1869, depicts the seal boat Panther plying its way through the summer ice along the northern coast of Greenland. According to an entry in Bradford’s journal, the ship’s crew had decided to hunt the polar bear seen in the foreground, "anxious to possess so fine a skin," but the animal, offering a parting glance before heading for the water, managed to escape its pursuers.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: An Arctic Summer: Boring Through the Pack in Melville Bay
  • Artist: William Bradford (American, 1823–1892)
  • Date: 1871
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 51 3/4 x 78 in. (131.4 x 198.1 cm); framed: 60 x 86 1/2 x 4 in.
  • Credit Line: Gift of Erving and Joyce Wolf, in memory of Diane R. Wolf, 1982
  • Object Number: 1982.443.1
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
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The Arctic Regions. Illustrated with Photographs Taken on an Expedition to Greenland by William Bradford. With Descriptive Narrative by the Artist.
Multiple artists/makers
1873
The Arctic Regions. Illustrated with Photographs Taken on an Expedition to Greenland by William Bradford. With Descriptive Narrative by the Artist.
Multiple artists/makers
1873
Off Greenland—Whaler Seeking Open Water, William Bradford American, Oil on canvas, American
Off Greenland—Whaler Seeking Open Water
William Bradford
An Incident of Whaling, William Bradford American, Oil on canvas, American
An Incident of Whaling
William Bradford
1880s
Shipwreck off Nantucket (Wreck off Nantucket after a Storm), William Bradford American, Oil on canvas, American
Shipwreck off Nantucket (Wreck off Nantucket after a Storm)
William Bradford
ca. 1860–61

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