Articles

Lane in Maine Excursion

A small group of Cape Ann Museum patrons embarked on a “Lane in Maine” sailing trip aboard the 1930 Gloucester-built schooner the “American Eagle” between September 14-19, 2025. Eighteen guests began their trip with guided visits to the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, before then boarding the schooner for a multi-day exploration of many of the same harbors and islands that Fitz Henry Lane visited on successive visits during the late 1840s through mid-1850s.

Erica Hirshler, the Croll Senior Curator of American Art at the MFA, Boston, was one of three lecturers who interpreted Lane’s works for the group. Her presentation prompted discussion around the many visionaries including Alfred Mansfield Brooks, John Wilmerding, Erik Ronnberg, and Sam Holdsworth who have conducted, celebrated and inspired such great scholarship around Lane. 

Local Maine historian Carl Little also presented to the group and shared many great passages from the Fitz Henry Lane Catalogue Raisonné as part of his talk, aptly illuminating the scenes discussed by scholars. The Cape Ann Museum is deeply indebted to both John Cunningham and Caroline Hovey for all their work in organizing this very unique experience.