Multi-Estate Spring 2026 Auction
Lot 89:
Description
C-19098
Original watercolor depicting the famed paddlewheel riverboat Delta Queen underway, rendered with loose, atmospheric brushwork and a strong maritime sensibility. The vessel is shown broadside, its red sternwheel churning against deep green water, while layered blue-gray clouds sweep across the sky. The name “DELTA QUEEN” is clearly lettered along the upper deck, and small silhouetted figures appear along the railing and rooftop deck beneath an American flag in motion. The composition balances architectural precision in the multi-deck superstructure with expressive washes in the water and sky. Titled “Steamboat Delta Queen” at lower left and signed “Paul N. Norton” at lower right. Housed in a dark wood frame with subtle stepped molding. The Delta Queen, launched in 1927, became one of the most celebrated surviving Mississippi River paddlewheelers, operating as an excursion and passenger steamboat and later achieving National Historic Landmark status—an enduring icon of American river travel.
Shows light age toning to the paper with minor surface wear and faint spotting consistent with age. Frame exhibits typical finish wear but remains structurally sound. Artwork presents well with strong color and legible signature.
27” W x 21.5” H
Share this lot:
