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National Gallery of Art
  • Visit

    • Plan Your Visit
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Food and Drink
    • Tours and Guides
    • Explore the Campus

    Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Admission is always free

    6th and Constitution Ave NW 
    Washington, DC 20565

    Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

    Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights

    Starting June 3
  • Exhibitions & Events

    • Exhibitions
    • Calendar
    • Kid-Friendly Events

    Featured event:

    Block Party

    Join us June 6
  • Art & Artists

    • Artworks
    • Artists
    • Stories
    • Fun and Games
    • Educational Resources
    • Research

    Open Call

    Artists Reimagining the Collection

    Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Utility

  • Shop
  • Support
  • Visit

    • Plan Your Visit
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Food and Drink
    • Tours and Guides
    • Explore the Campus

    Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    Admission is always free

    6th and Constitution Ave NW 
    Washington, DC 20565

    Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

    Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights

    Starting June 3
  • Exhibitions & Events

    • Exhibitions
    • Calendar
    • Kid-Friendly Events

    Featured event:

    Block Party

    Join us June 6
  • Art & Artists

    • Artworks
    • Artists
    • Stories
    • Fun and Games
    • Educational Resources
    • Research

    Open Call

    Artists Reimagining the Collection

    Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Utility

  • Shop
  • Support

Directions

  • Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  • Extended summer hours

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    3. Donaldson Line
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    Donaldson Line

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    This painting depicts a maritime scene with several large sailing ships, viewed from a slightly elevated perspective. The horizon is low in the painting, creating a wide expanse of sky above the ships and distant coastline with hills, trees, and a line of small buildings. In the center of the painting, a large ship faces the right, with several large white sails, blue flags, and red banners. One flag has the word "FAVORITE" visible as it ripples in the wind. Small people line the deck of this ship, and more people are visible in small row boats that float next to it. There are two other large ships to the left and right, as well as smaller rowboats and sailboats. The light blue sky is cloudy, and the water below the ships is pale green with soft white waves.
    Robert Salmon, The Ship "Favorite" Maneuvering Off Greenock, 1819, oil on canvas, Paul Mellon Collection, 1981.54.1

    The Ship "Favorite" Maneuvering Off Greenock

    The Ship "Favorite" Maneuvering Off Greenock

    Robert Salmon · 1819 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1981.54.1

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