County historical society paints scenario for art giving

New London - Old salts always want to return to their homeport, but in the case of 19th-century whaling captain John P. Rice, coming home may be costly.

A portrait of Rice (1798-1873), who was a New London whaler known as Bony Rice, is being offered Saturday at an estate sale at John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury, Mass.

Rice made his home on Granite Street near the statue of Gov. John Winthrop, and the New London County Historical Society would like to add his portrait to their collection. Unfortunately, they don't have the money to make a bid.

"A piece of New London's history is on the auction block,'' said Deborah Donovan, president of the historical society.

"It would be a real shame if it went into private hands.''

She's hoping someone might take an interest in the historical significance of the painting and donate it to the society.

The 33-by-27-inch painting is listed on mcinnisauctions.com (Lot 145) as an unsigned oil on canvas, valued between $5,000 to $10,000. According to the auction house, the painting is from a private collector's home in Hampton, N.H.

Donovan said the portrait is by Isaac Sheffield, an itinerant painter born in 1798 in Guilford who later settled in New London.

Sheffield (1798-1845) was known for his portraits of sea captains.

The historical society already has several portraits by Sheffield, she said.

k.edgecomb@theday.com