
The Yacht America1877
The original yacht America was built in 1851 to compete in the Hundred Guinea Cup, the only American entry against fourteen British vessels. More about this work
About this work
The original yacht America was built in 1851 to compete in the Hundred Guinea Cup, the only American entry against fourteen British vessels. When the race was over, Queen Victoria asked, “Who is in first place?” and was told that America had won. When she asked, “Then who is in second?” the American boat had such a strong lead that the reply was: “Madam, there is no second.” After this, the race became known as the America’s Cup.
Text from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
How it was made
- Oil paint
- Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.
Charles S. Raleigh
born Gloucester, England 1830-died Bourne, MA 1925
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The Smithsonian American Art Museum has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 1973.150
- Credit
- Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Type
- Painting
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site









