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In the Manner of James Bard (1815-1897) HUDSON RIVER STEAMBOAT TROY Unsigned Oil on canvas 30 1/4 x 51 3/4 in. Literature: Morrison, John H., History of American Steam Navigation (1958), pp. 71, 79, 82, 83, 86, 88, 90; Heyl, Eric, Early American Steamers (1964), vol. III, pp. 327 - 328 Other Notes: Troy was built in 1840 at a cost of $100,000 by William Capes, Brooklyn, NY with her machinery being supplied by T. F. Secor & Co., New York, NY. Her wooden hull measured 293' x 30' x 9'.4", 724 tons. Troy was powered by twin horizontal beam engines each with a bore of 44 inches and stroke of ten feet that powered a pair of paddle wheels 29 feet in diameter. First owned by Troy & New York Steamboat Co., 1841 - 1847, Troy was the largest steamboat on the Hudson River - the pride and joy of the citizens of Troy. The commercial and civic rivalry between Albany and Troy at the time was so frantic that the citizens of one city would not take a boat owned by the other city. Troy ran as a day boat between New York and Troy from 1841 - 1846. In September of 1846 one of Troy's engines broke down, and she was laid up for the winter. During the 1847 season Troy was continually beset with engine trouble, which made her so slow and unreliable that she missed the Albany train connection numerous times. During the winter of 1847 - 1848 the People's Association Line purchase a half interest in Troy, and had her remodeled into a night boat. She plied the Hudson during the 1848 and 1849 seasons in this capacity for the combined People's and Troy Line. But savage and cut - throat competition by Daniel Drew forced the People's Association Line into bankruptcy. The 1850 to 1852 seasons found Troy on the night line to Troy under the combined ownership of Daniel Drew, People's Line, and Troy & New York Steamboat Co. Apparently, Troy was used only as a spare boat during the 1853 season. In 1854 she was retired though not abandoned or broken up according to the "Lyttle List" until 1859. This confusion was likely caused by someone forgetting to file her documents for surrender. A copy of a letter discussing Troy from A. J. Peluso, Jr. to Dean Leith, Jr. dated January 29, 1985 accompanies this lot.