Abel Bowen’s stirring depiction of the USS Constitution is regarded as the rarest American print related to the War of 1812. A wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy, Constitution was named by President George Washington, and constructed and launched from Boston in 1797. Today she is heralded as the world’s oldest fully commissioned naval vessel, with her crew participating in ceremonies and educational programs that promote the Navy’s role in war and peace.

Unquestionably, she is best known for her exploits during the War of 1812 when she defeated no less than five British warships and numerous merchant vessels, earning her the moniker “Old Ironsides.” William Lynn’s dramatic composition is believed to mark the moment of her victorious return to Boston. His meticulous and accurate delineation of the masts, stays, rigging, and sails tells of his training as a rigger.

Related examples: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.