Full Speed 1886

Julius LeBlanc Stewart's 1886 oil painting, "Full Speed," depicts a group of elegantly dressed passengers on a steamboat, with a woman at the helm. The woman in the center, wearing a black dress with a red sash, is confidently steering the vessel, while other passengers relax in the background. The painting is a beautiful example of the genre of "society painting" that was popular in the late 19th century, showcasing the leisure activities of the upper class and highlighting the burgeoning popularity of the steamboat as a mode of transportation. The scene is rendered with meticulous detail, from the woman's gloves to the intricate patterns of the flowers, adding to the overall sense of refinement and leisure.