An Arctic Summer: Boring Through the Pack in Melville Bay
William Bradford American
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.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
