"Home Safe" (at Execution Rock), depicts a small sailing boat on rough waters under a moonlit night, with three fishermen being guided home by a distant lighthouse. Nice gold leaf fluted frame. Provenance: acquired from a NY dealer in '87. James Buttersworth was born in Middlesex County, England, little is known about him before he emigrated to the United States. He settled in West Hoboken, New Jersey about 1850 and enjoyed a flourishing career as a marine painter. New York Harbor provided the background for a great number of his works. He went to work for Nathaniel Currier in 1847, and when the firm later became Currier and Ives, many of his paintings were made into prints. Buttersworth's career spanned sixty years, and about 600 of his paintings have been recorded. He painted America's Cup races as well as warships and historic naval actions, and all types of vessels from racing clipper ships and yachts to steamers. He was particularly adept at capturing the grace, majesty and movement of sailing vessels. Using primarily oil paint, he applied in thinly to the ground, which was usually canvas but also occasionally millboard, wood panel, or metal. He had an eye for meticulous detail and he portrayed ships with great accuracy, but he also achieved a Romantic sense of drama with the use of low horizon lines, stormy skies, and tempestuous water. Signed lower right: J.E. Buttersworth. Overall size: 12 x 14 in. Sight size: 5 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. Please note that all sales are final. No refunds will be given under any circumstances.