Noank Shipyard, c. 1900
Oil on academy board, 12 x 16”
Unsigned
Beal studied naval architecture for a short time, then art with William Merritt Chase. Afterward he was able to devote his time to painting and sailing. No wonder he was drawn to the Robert Palmer & Son shipyard at Noank. Palmer’s was one of the most prominent builders of utilitarian barges and floats on the east coast. Beal must have been aware that wooden ships would soon go out of production. New man-made materials were being seen as a better choice. Palmer’s employed some 400 men at the turn of the century but went out of business in 1914.