Adelina Patti in Colors of the Long Island Yacht Club, from the Yacht Colors of the World series (N140) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890

This lithograph of Adelina Patti, printed by Duke Sons & Co., presents a fascinating study in form and function. Framed by oars and nautical rope, Patti is depicted in the colors of the Long Island Yacht Club. The composition itself is rigidly symmetrical, using a visual order that speaks to a specific social structure, and reflects the codes and conventions of late 19th-century society. The artist's choice to portray Patti in these colors isn't merely decorative. It acts as a signifier, linking her image to the Long Island Yacht Club. Furthermore, the use of nautical symbols around the portrait might suggest an attempt to associate the singer with themes of exploration and maritime prowess, thereby extending Patti's own celebrated persona beyond the opera stage. Ultimately, this image is an intriguing blend of portraiture and branding. It functions within a cultural discourse, using Patti's public image to promote ‘Honest Long Cut Tobacco’.