Ed Vebell: Fulton's Clermont Steamboat

Artist: Ed Vebell
1921 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 20.75 by 20 inches
Overall Size: 26.75 by 26.25 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Cold Press Illustration Board

It was the English who invented the first steam engine and the first steam railroad but it was an American, Robert Fulton, who, in 1807, formally launched the steamboat era. Fulton was not the inventor, however, of the steamboat: that distinction belongs to poor John Fitch, a Connecticut Yankee and a veteran of the Continental Army who, as early as 1787, built and launched a forty-five-foot steamboat. But, alas, nothing came of that brave experiment. Fitch could get no financing for his invention and in the end gave up in despair and fled to the wilds of Kentucky where he died. Ten years later, the New York lawyer and diplomat, Robert Livingston, anticipating the role that steamboats might play in a vast nation whose only effective transportation was by water, persuaded his young friend Robert Fulton, with whose artistic and inventive talents he was familiar, to try his hand at building a steamboat. Fulton boasted a natural talent for engineering. He eagerly embraced Livingston's proposal and by 1807 was ready to launch The Clermont, named after Livingston's hometown. On its maiden trip, the boat steamed up the Hudson to Albany and returned five days later, having averaged a speed of five miles an hour. Successful as it was, it brought no great wealth to either Livingston or Fulton, for in 1824, John Marshall's Court pronounced their monopoly unconstitutional as an infringement on congressional power to regulate "commerce concerning the several states."

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® Commemorative Cover for Epic Events in American History series issued in 1985.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB06484

US$ Price: $2,300.00

Easy Purchase Plan: Buy this ArtworkOriginal with 8 monthly payments. Shipping and handling will be added to the first payment. Payments will be charged automatically as due to your Credit Card.

How to buy Original Artwork:

If you would like to buy Original Artwork, there are several convenient ways:

Use The Artwork Gallery: simply click the "Hang in Gallery" for pictures of interest. This puts the picture in your Personal Artwork Gallery, where you can view or remove it. When you've finished hanging artwork in your Personal Artwork Gallery, Go to your Personal Artwork Gallery and select an option for contacting us or ordering from us from there.

To get in touch with us directly about a piece of Artwork by Phone note the SKU and dial TOLL FREE 1-800-287-4079 from throughout U.S. and Canada.