Originally meant to illustrate Kenneth Roberts’ Trending into Maine, the stunning Island Funeral, 1939, offers a bird’s-eye view of boats arriving at Teel’s Island off Port Clyde for the funeral of 96-year-old Rufus Teel. Wyeth had a relationship to the Teel family similar to his son Andrew’s to the Olsen’s. The image brings to mind the contemporary practice of honoring the death of an islander with a special flotilla.
Among other parts of this stunning painting, I like how the sails of the boats are depicted as though they’re working from the same wind direction.
EDIT: And thank you so much for posting this!
No problem, I like the view from high up. Almost like the dead guy is looking down at his own funeral.