Edmund Fitzgerald Storm Paintings

[Guest]

I have always felt that the Clary storm painting conveyed probably the most accurate depiction of the Fitzgerald on that day. I feel that many artists tend to depict the ship in the storm in nighttime conditions but with the Fitzgerald unnaturally illuminated. Such a view would be unlikely if the time of the depiction is the estimated time of the sinking as being around 7:15 on November 10, 1975 which would have been in total darkness about a 1 1/2 hour after sunset behind heavy cloud cover.

[Denny]

In response to the Guest post finding the painting of the Fitz and Jesus in it, YES indeed as that’s the one I’m talking about here everyone! Isn’t that painting stunning and breathtaking & captivating? Until my brother found that just a few years ago and gave it to me for Christmas, I have never ever seen an Artwork Painting ever quite like that one. Taking nothing away of course from all the other great Artwork Paintings of the Fitz but, once I saw that painting I was just moved by it.

[Guest]

I like that William Moss painting of the Fitzgerald upbound beneath the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron, my only complaint-and minor at that-being the background of the Port Huron side south of the bridge is somewhat unrealistic even pre-1975 as that area had some industrial buildup rather than a solid tree line as evidenced in this image of the vessel from the bridge near the same spot as the painting is portrayed. That being said, it is a very good painting with a very good capture of a proper perspective of how the vessel would have appeared. Many artists appear to have problems at times capturing a proper linear perspective when painting lakers but that is certainly not a problem in this work! Unfortunately, it appears that William Moss passed away back in 2014, but we are all fortunate that he left behind his portrayal of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[Ohio Bob]

"Still Searching" by Pat Norton. I have a print of this in my house. It is a second version after her original painting was stolen - I believe from the Ojibway Hotel in the Soo.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1818842510

[Guest]

Seems like I recall Mary Demroske did a nice painting of the Fitz

[Guest]

Is this the painting, Mr. Denny?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404057397820741344/

[Denny]

I have in my collection of the Fitzgerald hanging up on my walls, posters depicting the Fitzgerald in the storm a poster from the Shipwreck Museum up at Whitefish Point, Michigan. That same image is shown on T-Shirts and Sweatshirts from the Museum Store up there. Sorry as I don’t recall just who painted that image. Then, I have a poster years ago I purchased from a museum in Lansing showing four photos of the Fitzgerald as she lies today at the bottom of Lake Superior. Then I have a photo of her in calm conditions in her last season of 1975 only a few months before she sank. I’m sure many know the picture I’m referring to. I think 🤔 it is one by Bob Campbell and it appears in a book he wrote or had something to do with anyway just a few short years ago. I met Bob a few years ago at a book signing event in Port Huron and we talked about that picture. However, the one Artwork that has just captivated me was given as a Christmas gift by my brother just a few years ago. I never seen this image before until he showed it to me to which I was just fascinated by it. It’s a painting of the Fitzgerald in the storm and also a picture of our Lord & Savior Jesus also in it. I have it hanging up on my wall with the others I mentioned. But, that one with the Lord in it is simply amazing and stunning! I’m not sure where my brother found it at as I’m sure if many of you search for it, I’m sure then you will find and locate it then! Although I don’t have this painting and Artwork, I’ve always been captivated by a painting of the Fitzgerald passing under the Blue Water Bridge just days before she sank. I think the painting is by William Moss but I’m not sure of it? That painting of the Fitz passing below the bridge at Port Huron has always held and captivated me as it would’ve been the last time she passed through the area on her way up to load and eventually sink. The painting is amazing as it’s in calm sea conditions with sun out shining nice & brightly on the Fitz! Who knew then that in a matter of just a few days, she would sink and then be at the bottom of Lake Superior. Those are just a few of my favorite ones. Thanks for allowing me to share. Hope I’ve helped you out then.

[Guest]

I realize that preferences in artwork is a personal viewpoint and is therefore subjective with no relevance as to which work is really the best, but I was wondering in anyone would be willing to share their opinions of the various artworks depicting the Edmund Fitzgerald. From a personal perspective when it comes to depictions of the steamer in stormy conditions, I have always preferred Jim Clary's work that he released in 1976. I first saw a print of this work at Detroit's Metropolitan Airport after arriving there from a flight from Frankfort, West Germany in 1978 and have always felt that he likely captured what the ship and wave conditions were likely to be found in Lake Superior during the early to mid-afternoon hours on November 10, 1975. One slight inaccuracy I have noted in the Clary depiction is that the vessel is shown with the large radar scanner at the top of the mast that was replaced shortly before its sinking by a more modern and slimmer antenna, so Clary obviously based his work on photograph(s) taken before the radar scanner replacement-a small detail that in no way takes away from the quality of the resulting work. This particular inaccuracy has been repeated by many others claiming to be depicting the Fitgerald's final voyage. I believe the Clary piece was one of, if not the earliest such artwork released following the ship's sinking. Despite liking this particular depiction, I have only one Fitzgerald work in my collection, that being a print of the vessel sailing upbound at Detroit by Greg Tisdale dated 1985. I have always preferred depictions of this ship in its normal operation as it is impossible to really know how it appeared out in the lake that day and that I feel that its sinking has, unfortunately, grown into a unique subject that seems to overshadow both its operational career and the countless other vessel losses that in many cases are just has mysterious and have taken far more lives.

Just wondering about other viewpoints on such works of the Fitzgerald.