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Catalogue Entry

inv. 280
Thacher's Island Light from Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester
c.1852
Oil on canvas
12 x 20 in. (30.5 x 50.8 cm)
No inscription found
Supplementary Images
Thacher's Island Light from Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester (with Mary Blood Mellen), c.1852 (inv. 280). Verso
Verso
Thacher's Island Light from Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester (with Mary Blood Mellen), c.1852 (inv. 280)
Related Work in the Catalogue
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Historical Materials

Below is historical information related to the Lane work above. To see complete information on a subject on the Historical Materials page, click on the subject name (in bold and underlined).
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A painting of Little Good Harbor Beach which Lane made from the drawing Little Good Harbor Beach from the Western Upland, 1861 (inv. 152) was given as a prize in a raffle at the 1863 Cape Ann Sanitary Fair, according to the Gloucester Telegraph of December 26. Salt Island and Thacher's Island are visible in the background of the drawing. The painting's current whereabouts is unknown.

Good Harbor Beach is on the other side of East Gloucester, towards Rockport, near Salt Island.

map
1831 Mason Map
John Mason
1831
Lithograph
28.5 x 21 in.
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

When Massachusetts decreed that each town be mapped, John Mason drew the map of Cape Ann in 1830. This drawing was sent to the Senefelder Lithographic Company of Boston (owned by William Pendleton) to be printed, and then sold in Gloucester by W.E.P. Rogers, whose Gloucester Telegraph of February 12, 1831 announced, "A few specimen copies of the map, uncolored, have reached the town" and that they cost $1.25. Perhaps this business arrangement between Pendleton and Rogers provided Lane with his introduction to Pendleton.

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publication
1850 Gloucester Daily Times 9.11.1850
9.11.1850
Newspaper
Gloucester Daily Times

"Fitz H. Lane, Esq., has just finished a view of Good Harbor Beach; and if we are not mistaken, it will be pronouced as fine a painting as the artist has ever produced. The picture combines the quiet beauty of a landscape with the life and grandeur of the ocean."

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publication
1863 Gloucester Telegraph 12.26.1863
12.26.1863
Newsprint
Gloucester Telegraph
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

At a Sanitary Fair held at the Pavilion "obtained through the favor and generosity of the owner, Mr. SIDNEY MASON, of New York, and to whom many thanks are due."  "... hangs a fine picture, the generous gift of our own Artist, Mr. Lane.  The Subject is "Coffin's Beach," as seen from the "Loaf."  This is the most costly article on sale in the rooms, and is valued at $100. It will be disposed of by tickets $1 each."

Two paintings by Lane, Little Good Harbor Beach and View from the Loaf were on sale at the Fair.

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publication
1863 Gloucester Telegraph 12.26.1863

12.26.1863 Newspaper Gloucester Telegraph

"The Cape Ann Sanitary Fair: [Thursday in the Curiosity Room] We noticed and particularly admired a beautiful wreath of Wax Flowers, the work of a lady artist (Mrs. Charles Mellen) who not only excels in this delicate art, but adds to it the genius so rare in women, of a high rank in oil painting. One of her landscape scenes hangs in the same room. We are happy and grateful to acknowledge again a new donation of a Painting from Mr. Lane, at half price. subject: "Little Good Harbor Beach." This, like the former, was sold at raffle and will realize to the Fair a handsome amount... The following articles were drawn in raffle: Mr. Lane's Painting of a "View from the Loaf," $100-Capt. David W. Low at one of the Town Meetings held during the Summer, the volumes presented to the Town by the City of Gloucester, Eng.,were exhibited, and the Selectmen were instructed to acknowledge the receipt of them. They did so, and also forwarded one of Lane's colored engravings of Gloucester Harbor, and one of Walling's maps of the town. [Friday] 2nd picture of Mr. Lane's, "Good Harbor Beach," $100- Mrs. Eli F. Stacy."

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Cape Ann Scenery: Artistic Series No. 8 Good Harbor Beach, Cape Ann
Procter Brothers

c.1860s Stereograph card Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

Stereo view

Little Good Harbor Beach looking towards the Farms

Also filed under: Historic Photographs »   //  Salt Island »

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photo (historical)
Good Harbor Beach
c.1900
Colored lithograph
Cape Ann Museum Library and Archive
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map
Locator map: Good Harbor Beach
H. F. Walling
1851
44 x 34 in.
John Hanson, Publisher
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
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In 1635 Anthony Thacher and his wife were the only survivors from a shipwreck off the island. As compensation for the loss of his four children and cousins, the General Court gave the island to Thacher. The island became known as "Thacher's Woe" and remained in the family for 80 years. In 1771 the Province of Massachusetts Bay Council passed a bill for the erection of a lighthouse on Thacher Island and purchased the island from the heirs of Anthony Thacher. The name seems to have been Thacher's Island in the nineteenth century, although currently is known as Thacher Island.

The name of the island is variably spelled with and without a second "t."

photo (historical)
Bass Rocks, showing Salt and Thatcher's Islands
Charles D. Brown, publisher

From Gloucester Picturesque, c.1900.

Also filed under: Salt Island »

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map
1831 Mason Map
John Mason
1831
Lithograph
28.5 x 21 in.
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

When Massachusetts decreed that each town be mapped, John Mason drew the map of Cape Ann in 1830. This drawing was sent to the Senefelder Lithographic Company of Boston (owned by William Pendleton) to be printed, and then sold in Gloucester by W.E.P. Rogers, whose Gloucester Telegraph of February 12, 1831 announced, "A few specimen copies of the map, uncolored, have reached the town" and that they cost $1.25. Perhaps this business arrangement between Pendleton and Rogers provided Lane with his introduction to Pendleton.

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publication
1862 Cape Ann Advertiser 1.10.1862
1.10.1862
Newsprint
Cape Ann Advertiser
Collection of Fred and Stephanie Buck

"VISIT TO LANE'S STUDIO.

We called at the studio of this artist a few days ago, and found several new paintings had been added to his collection since our last visit. The first that arrested our attention was a view of Good Harbor Beach. . . .

A scene outside Eastern Point, during a fresh sou'wester, is full of life, and faithfully portrayed on the canvass. . . .

A fancy sketch, representing a storm scene, is also on exhibition. . . .

The Artist has now on his easel a large picture 36x60, just commenced, which we should judge would be his master-piece. It will be on exhibition when finished, and we forbear a description of it at this time. Mr. Lane, as a marine painter, ranks first in the country, and we are pleased to chronicle his success in producing such life-like pictures."

Image: Collection of Fred and Stephanie Buck
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publication
1862 Cape Ann Advertiser 1.10.1862 (Thacher Island lighthouse)
1.10.1862
Newspaper clipping
Cape Ann Advertiser
Collection of Fred and Stephanie Buck

About a visit to the new lighthouse:

"VISIT TO THATCHER'S ISLAND.

On Wednesday last, the yacht Mary Bell, Capt. Merchant, made an excursion to Thatcher's Island. Availing ourselves of an invitation we joined the party and were soon on our way with a brisk breeze, which wafted us speedily to our destination. Arriving at the Island we landed and proceeded to examine the new lighthouses which have recently been erected here, and are now nearly ready for service. The towers are the most substantial that have been erected on the American coast, and reflect great credit on those who have had the superintendence of their construction. . . "

Image: Collection of Fred and Stephanie Buck
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photo (historical)
Cape Ann (Thatcher Island) Light
1891
Photograph

From The Illustrated Coast Pilot with sailing directions. The Coast of New England from New York to Eastport, Maine including Bays and Harbors, published by N. L. Stebbins, Boston, Mass.

Image: Cape Ann Museum Library and Archive
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Cape Ann Scenery: No. 215 Thatcher's Island
Hervey Friend, Publisher

c.1870 Stereograph card Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

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Cape Ann Scenery: No. 60 Thatcher's Island Northern Light
John S. E. Rogers, Publisher

c.1870 Stereograph card Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

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Cape Ann Scenery: No. 61 Thatcher's Island Southern Light
John S. E. Rogers, Publisher

c.1870 Stereograph card Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive

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map
Locator map: Thacher Island
H. F. Walling
1851
44 x 34 in.
John Hanson, Publisher
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
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map
U.S. Coast Survey Chart: Rockport Harbor
1882
Survey of the Coast of the United States, Washington, D.C.
Collection of Erik Ronnberg

Also filed under: Maps »

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Provenance (Information known to date; research ongoing.)
Private collection
Vose Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts
Joseph and Dixie Schulman, Oxford, Maryland
Exhibition History
2007 Spanierman Gallery
Spanierman Gallery in association with Vallejo Gallery, New York, American Marine Paintings, 1830–1930, October 4–December 1, 2007.
Published References
No known published references.
Related Historical Materials
Record last updated March 16, 2023. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: "Thacher's Island Light from Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester (with Mary Blood Mellen), c.1852 (inv. 280)." In Fitz Henry Lane Online. Gloucester, MA: Cape Ann Museum. www.fitzhenrylaneonline.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=280 (accessed on August 24, 2025).