William Moore Davis, Port Jefferson Harbor

William Moore Davis, Port Jefferson Harbor

Here is a painting of my hometown by Long Island artist William Moore Davis (1829-1920).  Davis was born in neighboring Setauket and worked in the shipbuilding industry in Port Jefferson when he was a boy.  The influence of this experience can perhaps be seen in his multiple paintings of boats and ships, such as A Close Shave and Wreck at Poquot Beach.  Davis spent some time in New York City, but mostly lived around Port Jefferson and Setauket.  Another painting of Port Jefferson is Lecture Night at the Baptist Church, Port Jefferson.  Davis was friends with fellow artist and Setauket native William Sidney Mount, who was a major influence on Davis.  Although he was never a member of the group, Davis was also heavily influenced by the Hudson River School and their visions of nature and landscape. This painting of Port Jeff Harbor is a beautiful rendition of its subject.  The relationship of light and clouds is handled beautifully and the interplay of water and sky is thoroughly compelling.  Davis depicted the grass with great care, showing the fineness as well as the density of the vegetation.  The grass seems to be moving in the gentle evening breeze.  Davis did not have many exhibitions in his lifetime, but in recent decades his work has been rediscovered and his legacy preserved.  Although this is a simple scene, Davis exhibited great skill by successfully evoking the quiet beauty of this harbor.