Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Bark Isaac Rich of New York
1876
Luigi Renault (1845-ca. 1910)
Italy: Leghorn
Oil on canvas
overall: 23 x 34 in.; framed: 29 x 41 x 3 in.
Special Acquisitions Fund
90.14

Painting shows the three-masted barkentine "Isaac Rich" entering Leghorn [Livorno], Italy in 1876 under full sail; flags on mast include the ship's swallowtail flag or pennant, which is red and reads, "Isaac Rich," flying from the mainmast, an American flag from the gaff, a Jack from the foremast, and a blue flag with Masonic square and compasses flying from the mizzenmast; in varying shades of blues, greens, reds. A port and other ships are visible in the background. Inscribed along the bottom, "Bark Isaac Rich of New York, W.B. Sheldon Master entering Leghorn Febry. 19th 1876."

Here the vessel Isaac Rich flies several banners, including the American flag and a pennant bearing a Masonic symbol, the square and compasses. The dark blue banner let others know that the captain or owner of the ship was a proud Freemason. This painting descended in the family of the ship’s master, William Bartlett Sheldon (ca. 1826–1903). At the time Renault painted this scene, William Bartlett Sheldon of Beverly, New Jersey, was Master of the Issac Rich. A professional ship master, Sheldon served as an Acting Volunteer Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. While Acting Master of the gunboat steamer U.S.S. FLAMBEAU, operating in South Carolina waters, he was captured in May 1863 while hunting on Bull's Island, and confined in the Confederate military prison at Columbia. Exchanged, he returned home to be raised a Master Mason in Burlington Lodge No. 32 in June 1863. Lt. Sheldon served in the navy until honorably discharged on October 29, 1865. Accompanying original papers and two photographs are in the Library Archives. For further information, see blog post, February 8, 2011, http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2011/02/is-this-a-masonic-painting.html