Pictorial Supplement 14

Marine Paintings of Michele Felice Cornè

Michele Felice Cornè was born on the island of Elba in 1752, but little is known of him prior to his departure from Naples in November 1799. aboard the Derby-owned ship Mount Vernon and his subsequent arrival in Salem. There, he soon established a clientele among shipmasters and shipowners for portraits of their vessels and among the well-to-do for frescoes, idyllic scenes, and fireboard decoration. After a number of years in Salem, Cornè removed to Boston where, during the War of 1812, he executed many works depicting naval battles; thence to Newport, Rhode Island, in 1822, where he died in 1845. His versatility is reflected in the accompanying plates, a sampling of his total known output. Unless otherwise noted, all illustrations are from the original paintings by Cornè in the Peabody Museum of Salem.

Ship Adventure of Salem, flying the house flag of John Norris.
Built at Salem, 1796, 184 tons. Watercolor