“H.M.S. Boston, 1749,” Alan B. McKnight, signed etching 28/100, a finely rendered historical maritime scene by the Woodstock artist and master draftsman.
This hand-pulled etching, “H.M.S. Boston, 1749,” by American maritime artist Alan B. McKnight, showcases the artist’s exceptional draftsmanship and his deep reverence for nautical history. Pencil-signed and numbered 28/100, the work depicts the eighteenth-century British warship in full sail, cutting through rough water with rigorous detail in rigging, hull structure, atmospheric skywork, and the dynamic surge of the sea.
McKnight’s linework is characteristically meticulous—crisp, controlled, and historically informed—reflecting his reputation as a specialist in maritime subjects and traditional etching methods. Acquired from the Mitch Morse Gallery, this limited-edition etching remains in excellent, unfaded vintage condition.
Artwork Description
Medium & Technique
A classic intaglio etching, executed with sharp burin-like precision. McKnight’s crosshatching, varied line weights, and textural shading demonstrate advanced control over copper plate etching.
Subject & Historical Accuracy
The H.M.S. Boston, launched in 1749, was an 18th-century Royal Navy ship known for escort missions and colonial-era operations. McKnight’s composition includes:
Stylistic Notes
McKnight’s work bridges realism and documentary draftsmanship, aligning him with American maritime illustrators and historic naval printmakers. His scenes prioritize clarity, authenticity, and a reverence for the sea’s energy.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — ALAN B. McKNIGHT
Alan B. McKnight is an American painter, etcher, and graphic artist widely recognized for his maritime imagery, natural landscapes, and environmentally-focused philosophy. Born in the mid-20th century, McKnight showed prodigious talent early—beginning formal training at age five—and went on to build a multifaceted career that blended fine art, illustration, and commercial design.
Education & Early Training
McKnight studied drawing, painting, and traditional etching techniques from childhood through early adulthood, eventually establishing a professional graphic arts studio in New York. His training emphasized disciplined draftsmanship, precision linework, and historic research—all elements that define his mature work.
Professional Career
McKnight built a successful career producing:
Maritime etchings
Historical ship portraits
Landscapes and wildlife imagery
Environmental-themed artworks
His graphic arts studio earned multiple awards, and his illustrations appeared in private, commercial, and educational contexts.
Artistic Philosophy
McKnight is deeply committed to ecological stewardship, expressing in interviews:
“I try to share an appreciation for our habitat that gets lost in the hurry-up culture of commerce and politics. The race for fame and posterity is pretty futile if there isn't enough stewardship of the air, water and soil to sustain life.”
This worldview is reflected in his careful observation of nature’s structures—trees, waves, sky currents, and organic motion—even when working in historic or man-made subject matter.
Exhibitions & Affiliations
McKnight started training as an artist at the young age of 5. He was an active member of the Woodstock Artists Association (NY), a storied institution connected to the Hudson River School lineage and the Woodstock art colony. Through the association, he has participated in group exhibitions, juried shows, and regional arts events throughout the Northeast. He has received numerous awards while running his own graphic arts studio in NY.
His maritime prints have circulated through:
Private maritime collections
Regional art societies
East Coast print galleries
Historical ship preservation groups
Style & Legacy
McKnight’s art is defined by:
Clean, confident linework
Historically accurate maritime detail
Strong compositional balance
Respect for natural forces
A contemplative environmental ethic
His etchings, particularly limited editions such as “H.M.S. Boston, 1749,” remain highly collectible for lovers of nautical history and classic intaglio technique.
Alan B. McKnight, H.M.S. Boston, 1749, signed and numbered etching (28/100), 14.75 × 11.5 in. Finely detailed maritime scene by the Woodstock printmaker.
Artist: Alan B. McKnight
Title: H.M.S. Boston, 1749
Medium: Original hand-pulled etching
Edition: 28/100
Signature: Pencil-signed lower right
Paper Size: 14.75 × 11.5 in.
Condition: Excellent, clean, no prior framing
Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery → Artfind Gallery (Washington, D.C.)
Notes: Strong impression; historically accurate maritime subject; collectible edition.
Provenance Chain
Artist → Alan B. McKnight Studio → Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC & European acquisitions) → Artfind Gallery, Washington, D.C.
“H.M.S. Boston, 1749,” Alan B. McKnight, signed etching 28/100, a finely rendered historical maritime scene by the Woodstock artist and master draftsman.
This hand-pulled etching, “H.M.S. Boston, 1749,” by American maritime artist Alan B. McKnight, showcases the artist’s exceptional draftsmanship and his deep reverence for nautical history. Pencil-signed and numbered 28/100, the work depicts the eighteenth-century British warship in full sail, cutting through rough water with rigorous detail in rigging, hull structure, atmospheric skywork, and the dynamic surge of the sea.
McKnight’s linework is characteristically meticulous—crisp, controlled, and historically informed—reflecting his reputation as a specialist in maritime subjects and traditional etching methods. Acquired from the Mitch Morse Gallery, this limited-edition etching remains in excellent, unfaded vintage condition.
Artwork Description
Medium & Technique
A classic intaglio etching, executed with sharp burin-like precision. McKnight’s crosshatching, varied line weights, and textural shading demonstrate advanced control over copper plate etching.
Subject & Historical Accuracy
The H.M.S. Boston, launched in 1749, was an 18th-century Royal Navy ship known for escort missions and colonial-era operations. McKnight’s composition includes:
Stylistic Notes
McKnight’s work bridges realism and documentary draftsmanship, aligning him with American maritime illustrators and historic naval printmakers. His scenes prioritize clarity, authenticity, and a reverence for the sea’s energy.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — ALAN B. McKNIGHT
Alan B. McKnight is an American painter, etcher, and graphic artist widely recognized for his maritime imagery, natural landscapes, and environmentally-focused philosophy. Born in the mid-20th century, McKnight showed prodigious talent early—beginning formal training at age five—and went on to build a multifaceted career that blended fine art, illustration, and commercial design.
Education & Early Training
McKnight studied drawing, painting, and traditional etching techniques from childhood through early adulthood, eventually establishing a professional graphic arts studio in New York. His training emphasized disciplined draftsmanship, precision linework, and historic research—all elements that define his mature work.
Professional Career
McKnight built a successful career producing:
Maritime etchings
Historical ship portraits
Landscapes and wildlife imagery
Environmental-themed artworks
His graphic arts studio earned multiple awards, and his illustrations appeared in private, commercial, and educational contexts.
Artistic Philosophy
McKnight is deeply committed to ecological stewardship, expressing in interviews:
“I try to share an appreciation for our habitat that gets lost in the hurry-up culture of commerce and politics. The race for fame and posterity is pretty futile if there isn't enough stewardship of the air, water and soil to sustain life.”
This worldview is reflected in his careful observation of nature’s structures—trees, waves, sky currents, and organic motion—even when working in historic or man-made subject matter.
Exhibitions & Affiliations
McKnight started training as an artist at the young age of 5. He was an active member of the Woodstock Artists Association (NY), a storied institution connected to the Hudson River School lineage and the Woodstock art colony. Through the association, he has participated in group exhibitions, juried shows, and regional arts events throughout the Northeast. He has received numerous awards while running his own graphic arts studio in NY.
His maritime prints have circulated through:
Private maritime collections
Regional art societies
East Coast print galleries
Historical ship preservation groups
Style & Legacy
McKnight’s art is defined by:
Clean, confident linework
Historically accurate maritime detail
Strong compositional balance
Respect for natural forces
A contemplative environmental ethic
His etchings, particularly limited editions such as “H.M.S. Boston, 1749,” remain highly collectible for lovers of nautical history and classic intaglio technique.
Alan B. McKnight, H.M.S. Boston, 1749, signed and numbered etching (28/100), 14.75 × 11.5 in. Finely detailed maritime scene by the Woodstock printmaker.
Artist: Alan B. McKnight
Title: H.M.S. Boston, 1749
Medium: Original hand-pulled etching
Edition: 28/100
Signature: Pencil-signed lower right
Paper Size: 14.75 × 11.5 in.
Condition: Excellent, clean, no prior framing
Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery → Artfind Gallery (Washington, D.C.)
Notes: Strong impression; historically accurate maritime subject; collectible edition.
Provenance Chain
Artist → Alan B. McKnight Studio → Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC & European acquisitions) → Artfind Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Image 1 of 8
Image 2 of 8
Image 3 of 8
Image 4 of 8
Image 5 of 8
Image 6 of 8
Image 7 of 8
Image 8 of 8
