Painted in 2009, the original oil on wood panel measures 30.25 inches wide by 21.75 inches high.
In the Penobscot Bay: Site of Explorer Henry Hudson’s First Landing in the New World:
On July 12, 1609, a lookout in the crow’s nest of Henry Hudson’s ship, the Half Moon, sighted the coast of North America through the mist.
After sailing down the coast from Nova Scotia, due to bad weather Hudson anchored his ship off Penobscot Bay, ME. (July 14). The Half Moon was trapped there for three days, shrouded in heavy fog.
While at anchor, two canoes appeared filled with Penobscot Indians. This was the first time the sailors had ever seen Indians. To make friends and allay fears, Hudson gave them trinkets he had brought to trade for spices in China.
On the fourth day, July 18, the fog lifted and the ship sailed into the Penobscot Bay and dropped anchor. It was reported to be a beautiful Bay, with thick green forests surrounding the coast. Henry Hudson went ashore, his First Landing in the New World.
For the next several days, it was documented that the crew of the expedition cut down a tall tree for use as a new mast, made ship repairs, filled barrels with fresh water, traded with the natives, and caught 31 lobsters and “20 great cods and a great halibut” in nearby waters.
On July 25, in fear of an Indian attack of their ship, Robert Juet led a raid on an Indian village. “.....We manned our Scute with twelve men and Muskets and two stone Pieces or Murderers, and drove the Savages from their houses, and took the Spoyle of them, as they would have done us.”
“Then we set sayle.”
As recorded by Robert Juet, Henry Hudson’s Log Keeper
Penobscot Bay, 1609
